Lansing's Green Door Music Venue Passes the Torch

New owners Scott Bell and Irving Ronk aim to maintain the venue's legacy while introducing more diverse musical acts.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 11:07pm

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After over 30 years of ownership, Jen Costigan has sold The Green Door, a longtime music venue in Lansing, Michigan, to Scott Bell and Irving Ronk. The new owners plan to keep the venue's legacy alive while introducing more diverse musical acts and making some updates to the space, including a new stage, sound system, and lighting. Costigan is stepping back due to the stresses of the pandemic and recent health issues, but is hopeful the new owners will continue the venue's tradition of supporting local and regional musicians.

Why it matters

The Green Door has been a fixture in Lansing's music scene for decades, serving as a hub for local and regional acts. Its change in ownership represents a shift in the city's entertainment landscape, as the new owners aim to maintain the venue's legacy while also attracting a younger, more diverse audience through programming changes.

The details

Costigan has been with The Green Door for over 30 years, starting as a bartender and eventually becoming the sole owner. The pandemic and her own health issues led her to seek new owners who would keep the music playing. She found that in Bell and Ronk, two Lansing music scene veterans who have experience booking shows and producing concerts. The new owners plan to continue hosting local and regional acts while also bringing in more touring and national talent. They've already made some updates to the venue, including a new stage, sound system, and lighting, but say they're focused on maintaining the venue's character and charm.

  • The Green Door closed in late June 2025, apart from its weekly Thursday night karaoke.
  • Costigan continued to book shows and operate the establishment until the end of 2025, showing the new owners the ropes.
  • Bell and Ronk took over as booking managers in early 2026.

The players

Jen Costigan

The former owner of The Green Door, who has been with the venue for over 30 years, starting as a bartender and eventually becoming the sole owner. She is stepping back due to the stresses of the pandemic and recent health issues.

Scott Bell

One of the new owners of The Green Door, who has been booking shows and playing in bands in the Lansing area for two decades.

Irving Ronk

The other new owner of The Green Door, who has also been booking shows and playing in bands in the Lansing area for two decades, although he now lives in Nashville.

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What they’re saying

“We turned the place back on and invited a lot of the legendary local and regional acts to come back and pack the place.”

— Scott Bell

“This place has amazing bones. We don't plan on truly changing a whole lot. Maybe we'll update the posters. The website's going to work now. It's the little things, and then the rest of it is just finding the right bands that want to put Lansing first and want to have a cool, clean concert.”

— Scott Bell

“I just want to say thank you, not only to the local musicians, but to Lansing, to all the customers who have come in through the years, as well as my staff. You know, I miss and love everybody, but everybody knows it's time for Mama Jen to take the next steps.”

— Jen Costigan, Former Owner

What’s next

The new owners plan to continue hosting local and regional acts while also bringing in more touring and national talent, with the goal of attracting a diverse crowd to the venue.

The takeaway

The transition of ownership at The Green Door represents a changing of the guard in Lansing's music scene, as the new owners aim to maintain the venue's legacy while also introducing new musical acts and experiences to attract a younger, more diverse audience.