Grand Rapids is a great place to browse one-of-a-kind stores overflowing with items you won't find anywhere else. Whether you're shopping for family, friends, or yourself, you won't walk away empty handed if you set out for these shops.

Girls Trip at Courage & Soar

Courage & Soar prides itself in an ever-rotating inventory of locally sourced goods to keep its space interesting and fresh.

Photo by Dorelle Brock for Experience GR.

Downtown

You'll find a number of distinctive stores just steps from downtown hotels, including Boutique Emmanuel. Conveniently located in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel for over 35 years, this shop boasts a large selection of women's clothing, handbags, and accessories.

Cross Monroe Avenue from the Amway and head toward Rosa Parks Circle and Monroe Center, where you can visit seven specialty shops over the span of a five-minute walk:

Just steps from Monroe Center is Periwinkle Fog, where you’ll find children’s toys, books, home décor, pottery and artwork. Also nearby is The 12th House, an LBGTQ-friendly shop with locally made pride merchandise and home items plus astrology, reiki and tarot readings.

Be sure to visit the gift shops at downtown museums for out-of-the-ordinary items. The Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Children's Museum, Grand Rapids Public Museum and Gerald R. Ford Museum all offer unique treasures to commemorate your cultural experience.

If you’re a dog lover, you’ll want to walk, or ride the free DASH a mile north on the counterclockwise route, to Fido & Stitch to shop for unique products your dog will love. If furniture is on your shopping list, cross the Grand River and head another mile north to FURN on Leonard, which offers excellent prices on liquidated furniture from major name brands. Explore the West Leonard neighborhood for even more unique shopping (and dining). 

Clothing racks and shelves of great finds at OTONO

Building community, creating change and selling a curated collection of uniquely designed clothing are at the heart of this thoughtful shop.

Photo by Courtesy of OTONO

Heartside

Just around the corner from downtown’s Monroe Center is Division Avenue – also known as the Avenue of the Arts – which is the main artery of the Heartside neighborhood. A 10-minute walk down Division will bring you past a number of art galleries as well as: 

  • Second Vibess , which “reimagines” vintage clothing into cool new fashions
  • Rewind, featuring vintage tees, streetwear, rare cards and more
  • Otono , offering a curated collection of secondhand clothing, accessories and home goods
  • Decaydence Vintage , stocked with vintage clothing, housewares, toys and more
  • Vertigo Music , featuring a vast selection of new and used LPs, CDs and cassettes
  • Zabház, a vintage store that strives to make everyone feel welcome
  • The August Connection, presenting vintage clothing and accessories for all ages and sizes

Also located in Heartside is Premier, a specialty skate shop and clothing store with an awesome sneaker collection, and Hëmd, offering its own amazing collection of street-inspired footwear and clothing. Don’t leave Heartside without visiting the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, where you can shop more than 15 artisan food vendors and have a bite to eat before you embark on the next leg of your shopping journey. The Market is a seven-minute walk from Otono and is also accessible via the DASH.

Elevated Grand Rapids is less than a 10-minute drive from the Downtown Market, and it’s well worth the trip. The shop is a collaborative marketplace hosting a variety of vendors, artisans and artists under one roof – making it easy to browse a wide range of antiques, vintage pieces and one-of-a-kind repurposed items.

Shopping at a Grand Rapids boutique store - looking for gifts.

Whoever you're shopping for, you can find the perfect unique gift at Rebel in Grand Rapids.

Photo by Mod Bettie for Experience GR

Uptown

Head about a mile east of downtown to the Uptown neighborhood and you'll be greeted with a bevy of shops clustered around several main streets. Start your shopping journey on Wealthy Street with a stop at Art of the Table, a beloved gourmet food, beverage and table accessory shop. Then it’s off to:

  • Fox Naturals for a wide variety of plant-powered skin and hair care products
  • Dime & Regal for quality fashion jewelry and custom-designed pieces
  • Woosah Outfitters for nature-inspired woodcut prints, apparel and gifts
  • Lee & Birch for high-quality women’s clothing and accessories
  • Basic Bee Boutique, a great source of trendy and contemporary women’s fashion
  • Paddle North for paddle boards, kayaks, utility docks, gear and apparel
  • Rebel for unique and creative gifts of all kinds

Just north of Wealthy Street is Cherry Street, where over a one-block stretch you can visit Covet Leisure, offering a line of women’s clothing for leisure, living and lazing; Commune, a store with a California vibe that’s packed to the brim with unique gifts, home décor, jewelry and much more; Gemini Handmade, featuring handcrafted leather goods and gifts; Books and Mortar, a “fiercely independent” bookstore; and Adored Boutique, stocked with women’s clothing, accessories and home items that are “fairly made.” Close by is Global Infusion, where you can browse a wide assortment of loose leaf teas and handcrafted goods.

Follow Cherry Street to Lake Drive and spend some time at Argos Books, a favorite local source for used books and comics since 1975. Wax Poetic Candle Bar, just down the street, is the place to go for custom-made candles, lotions, soaps, and more. You can also book a reservation to make your very own candle, or purchase a candle making kit to dive into at home. Another three-minute walk will take you to Sticky Fingers, the candy store of your dreams.

Finally, head north to Fulton Street for a visit to Always Betti, featuring a carefully curated estate and costume jewelry collection, fine furs and sterling silver pieces; and MercuryHead Gallery, home to the work of various local artists.

Gaslight Village

Less than two miles further east is Gaslight Village, a beautifully maintained stretch of specialty shops and restaurants that leads directly to Reeds Lake, a popular all-sports destination.

With tons of clothing, accessories and home decor, you'll be sure to find something you love in Pink Lemonade.

Nestled in the heart of Gaslight Village is Agate & Herb, another can't-miss boutique offering curated and handmade goods that friends and family are sure to love. Check out Suited for elevated beachwear and accessories that will turn heads on your visit to close-by Lake Michigan shores, and Hoffman Jewelers for rare, unique and custom jewelry.

Southeast Grand Rapids

Gaslight Village is just two miles north of Breton Village, an open-air shopping destination featuring a collection of trendsetting national brands and such local icons as Leigh’s (luxury women’s clothing), Fitzgerald’s (upscale menswear) and RC Caylan Atelier, the namesake shop and showroom of an award-winning designer who dresses many of Hollywood’s hottest stars.

From there, you're only two miles away from Woodland Mall and the 28th Street Shopping Corridor. It's dominated by big brand-name stores, but there are a number of independent retailers sprinkled in — including A.K. Rikk's, a luxury clothing store armed with a team of expert stylists. Bill & Paul's Sporthaus is also close by, and is well-equipped to supply you for any and all summer adventures, from hiking to beach days.

If you're looking to cross another independent bookstore off your list, stop by Schuler Books and Music, which has stood proudly in Grand Rapids for 40 years. Flowerland on 28th street has everything you need to create a beautiful space in your home and garden, including patio furniture, gardening essentials and bird feeders.

Cap off your adventures with a visit to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, whose gift shop features a broad assortment of glass, jewelry, pottery and much more.

Social squad shopping in Ada, 2023

Shop for beautiful home decor and chic clothing at Croft Haus.

Photo by Addison Causley for Experience GR

Short Drive

Downtown Ada

Downtown Ada – aka Ada Village – is a charming shopping (and dining) district 15 minutes east of Grand Rapids. While many of the buildings here have been erected in the last decade, their designs evoke the charm of an earlier era. Shop for women’s clothing and accessories at Croft Haus, Gina’s Boutique, The James Boutique and Runway Angels Consignment Boutique; children’s fashions at HMD Boutique, Tip Toes and Village Kids Consignment Boutique; and apparel for everyone at Laurel & Jack.

The Artisan Fox, Heather Lane Pottery, Pursuit Paper & Gifts and Lima-United by Love offer distinctive gifts and home décor items, while Plumfield Books is a locally owned and operated independent bookstore.

Downtown Rockford

Downtown Rockford, just 20 minutes north of Grand Rapids, is a quaint shopping village with wonderful shops and riverfront restaurants. Find beautiful clothing pieces and accessories at Jade, Lee & Birch, Paperdoll Boutique, and LBD Exchange Consignment Boutique, or browse among the knickknacks and decor at Era. The city is also home to Rockford Footwear Depot. Owned and operated by Wolverine Worldwide, this huge store is your one-stop shop for any shoes you need, as it includes popular brands like Chaco, Merrell and Sperry for a discounted price.

Round out your trip to Rockford with a visit to Epilogue Books, a charming independent bookstore filled to the brim with every genre you can think of. If you need inspiration, check out the staff picks or chat to one of them for a great recommendation. You can browse the shelves for an old favorite or a new find, shop for souvenirs, and grab a drink from their mini coffee bar. While you're shopping, you might even see Tommy, the store owner's laid-back dog who can sometimes be seen dozing in a patch of sunlight in the back.

Lake Michigan Beach Towns

Lake Michigan beach towns, 30-40 minutes from downtown GR, are unique finds in and of themselves. They also offer some excellent shopping if you're out on a day trip.

Downtown Grand Haven is lined with specialty shops on the way to the channel into Lake Michigan, so you can pair your beach day with some shopping. Downtown Holland features over 100 locally-owned retailers and restaurants, and has been named a Great American Main Street. Saugatuck/Douglas is dubbed the Art Coast of Michigan for its profusion of art galleries and art-based activities and events.

Whatever you're in the market for, you can be sure to find a unique treasure in one of the many local shops in Grand Rapids!