Studio Park in Downtown Grand Rapids Has Something for Everyone to Enjoy

It can be hard to please everyone when planning an outing. Some people want to go out to eat, while others might want to see a movie, or maybe even go shopping. 

Studio Park in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids is a one-stop entertainment hub that has something to make everyone happy.

Emily Loeks, Director of Community Affairs for Studio C, the Grand Rapids-based parent company behind Studio Park, Celebration Cinema and other entertainment concepts across Michigan, says Studio Park is a convenient entry point from which to explore the city. “With its central location, easy parking, heated walks, and food and entertainment every day, it’s a great place to connect with people.”

Premium Movie Experience

The Majestic Theater, the last of downtown’s grand movie houses, stopped showing movies in 1972. (It was later renovated into the home of Grand Rapids Civic Theatre , one of the nation’s oldest and largest community theatres.) Studio Park bought movies back to downtown in a big way in 2019 with the opening of Celebration Cinema Studio Park.

This nine-screen movie complex offers a premium movie experience with top-tier amenities. Its “Theater One” accommodates 300 guests and boasts the largest screen in West Michigan. “C Premium” upgrades your movie night with 4K laser projection, Dolby Atmos sound and heated reclining seats. Each theater offers wheelchair and companion seating, and assisted listening devices, audio descriptions and closed captioning are available for most showtimes.

Celebration guests can enjoy in-theater food delivery – everything from popcorn, soda and sweet treats to boneless wings, chicken quesadillas and pizza. It also has a full bar serving beer, wine and spirits. To top it all off, parking in the Studio Park covered parking lot is free for four hours when you see a movie. Just be sure to validate your ticket!

Eat, Drink and Shop Local

Studio Park is home to its own original restaurant, One Twenty Three, named for one of the first theaters owned by the Loeks family, which was located at 123 Pearl. This unique spot has a cozy atmosphere with fresh takes on American cuisine, including California garlic fries and the One Twenty Three burger with bacon-onion marmalade. The tavern also features outdoor seating, a full bar, happy hour specials, vegan options, a Chef’s Table experience and a kids menu sure to please all in your group. One Twenty Three will also validate your parking in the Studio Park garage for up to four hours.

The Studio Park complex includes other food options as well. Leo’s Coney Island On Tap serves up breakfasts, burgers, sandwiches, salads and Coney Island hot dogs in addition to beer, wine, cocktails and yummy “adult” shakes. Elsa’s is the place for ice cream, frozen yogurt and other sweet treats. Portico offers breakfast and lunch dishes made fresh with locally sourced ingredients, and Knoop is an upscale rooftop bar specializing in small bites and craft cocktails.

Numerous other dining options – including Luna (Mexican cuisine), Max’s South Seas Hideaway (Polynesian) and Peppino’s (Italian) are just steps away.

Before or after your meal, be sure to stop by The Arts Marketplace at Studio Park. Carrying a selection of quality hand-made goods from 40+ local, diverse makers, it’s a great place to find truly unique housewares, jewelry, clothing, mind and body products, and more.

Unique Concert Experience

The 200-seat Midtown venue at Studio Park provides an intimate setting complete with in-seat drink service for an exceptional live music (or live comedy) experience. The venue features a top-of-the-line sound system and semi-circle seating, allowing a more engaging evening for the artist and concert goers alike. Visit Midtown's website for ticket prices, dates and upcoming shows.

Studio Park is just a 5-8 minute walk from West Michigan’s two largest concert facilities: the outdoor Acrisure Amphitheater and indoor Van Andel Arena, both 12,000+-seat venues hosting the nation’s biggest touring shows. Park in the Studio Park(ing) garage early on concert nights to ensure a space – remember, you can get up to four hours of free parking when you attend a movie at Celebration Cinema or dine at One Twenty Three.

Outdoor Gathering Space 

The Piazza at Studio Park is designed as a public gathering spot to bring a bit of the outdoors to the center of downtown. Sunset Cinema movies on summer Saturday nights welcome guests to watch popular flicks on a mammoth outdoor screen complete with a superb sound system. Admittance is free – just show up with a blanket or low-profile chair and claim your patch of lawn.

On any given day, the piazza might also host outdoor yard games, yoga classes, a comedy show, a drag show and so much more. Check the Studio Park Events page for upcoming dates.

Heated sidewalks allow visitors to exercise outside year-round and make every season that much more enjoyable – including winter, when Studio Park often participates in the months-long World of Winter Festival.

World-Class Residence

Phase 1 of Studio Park, completed in 2020, included 106 residential apartments. That proved not nearly enough for locals and newcomers in search of a premium downtown living experience, so Studio Park broke ground on a new 22-story residential tower in 2022. Featuring 165 apartments and 25 luxury condos, Studio Park Tower became the fifth tallest building in Grand Rapids upon it’s completion in fall 2024. Residents enjoy breathtaking views of the city – including a bird’s-eye view of one of the largest active river revitalization efforts in the U.S.

A Global Headquarters

Studio Park is home to the corporate office of Acrisure, the namesake of the city's new amphitheater and one of the world’s largest and fastest growing insurance brokerages. Its sleek seven-story headquarters opened in 2021 to welcome employees from throughout the area. Attracting and retaining talent to the region is a key business strategy for Acrisure, and the concentration of urban amenities at Studio Park – including restaurants, retail and entertainment options within easy walking distance – helped clinch site selection.

Stay Where You Play

Grand Rapids visitors looking for short-term stays can check in to the 155-room Canopy by Hilton for a local experience with a boutique hotel feel. Featuring mid-century modern designs, handcrafted beds, pet-friendly rooms, a fitness center, onsite dining and more, the Canopy by Hilton puts guests in the middle of all the action at Studio Park, the Ionia Avenue Entertainment District and downtown Grand Rapids.

Be sure to plan plenty of time to enjoy your Studio Park experience!