Uptown Grand Rapids

Just east of Downtown Grand Rapids are four thriving business districts – East Fulton, East Hills, Eastown and Wealthy Street – collectively known as Uptown. This is the city's hippest destination, where an eclectic mix of locally owned specialty shops and galleries, restaurants, coffee houses and entertainment venues reflect the area's friendly, funky, fabulous character. It's an easy walk or quick drive between the four business districts, on streets lined by historic homes and leafy trees.

East Fulton

Follow Fulton St. east out of downtown GR to the intersection of Fulton, Union Ave. and Lake Dr. and you’ve reached the East Fulton district, which stretches just less than a mile beyond that point. This short stretch is home to historic Fulton Street Cemetery, opened in 1838 and the burial site of many of the city’s founding fathers, and the equally historic Fulton Street Farmer’s Market, which has connected farmers, food creators and artists to the community since 1922.

You’ll also encounter restaurants (Black Napkin, Little Africa Ethiopian Cuisine and Schnitz Deli), bakeries (The Cakabakery, Mi Bella Guatemala and Van’s Pastry Shoppe), coffee shops (Common Ground Coffee House, Madcap Coffee and Stovetop Coffee Roasters) and watering holes (Buffalo Traders Lounge and Post Off Wine Bar) in East Hills.

You can shop for art and gifts at MercuryHead Gallery and Sweda Studio; clothing and accessories at Urban Exchange Consignment Boutique and Always, Betti Estate Jewelry; and recreational pursuits at Black Dog Books & Records, Blue Bridge Games and Grand Rapids Bicycle Co.

East Hills

Lying between the East Fulton and Wealthy Street districts, East Hills is bordered by Eastern Ave. to the west and Fuller Ave. to the east. Affectionately known as “the center of the universe,” this business district boasts more than 70 shops, restaurants and service businesses to serve residents and visitors.

Food & drink establishments include Chateau Grand Rapids, Cherie Inn, Furniture City Creamery, Global Infusion, The Green Well Gastro Pub, Grove, KCM, Le Bon Macaron, Kava Kasa, Less Traveled by Long Road Distillers, Lotus Brew Coffee/Dry Bar, Mangiamo, Maru Sushi, Pickwick Tavern and Vivant Brewery + Spirits.

Adored Boutique, Gemini Handmade, Honey Jewelry, Hopscotch Children’s Boutique, Metal Art Studio and Rock Paper Scissors Consignment Boutique are stocked with clothing and accessories. Commune, Nestology Shop & Studio and Windsor Cottage offer items for the home, Books & Mortar is a “fiercely independent” community focusing on progressive authors, and Ambrosia Theater is an intimate performance venue hosting a diverse slate of shows. 

Explore Cherry Street, the brick-lined road hosting East Hills’ highest concentration of restaurants and shops. 

Eastown

Spanning 70 square blocks north-south from Fulton St. to Franklin St. and east-west from Plymouth Ave. to Fuller Ave., Eastown began as a streetcar commuter suburb due to its location between downtown Grand Rapids and Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids, which was the site of a popular amusement park from 1897-1955. It evolved into a distinct neighborhood that became increasingly quirky and progressive through the years, sometimes referred to as the “Greenwich Village of Grand Rapids.”

Today, Eastown is a vibrant, walkable and welcoming district filled with more than 130 businesses and 4,500+ residents. Many businesses are situated along Lake Dr., one of the area’s two main thoroughfares. Feeling hungry? You’ll find El Cerrito Cocina Mexicana, Fruition Acai & Juice Bar, Harmony Brewing Company, Matchbox Diner & Drinks, Quarantino’s Pizza, Terra Bagels, Terra GR and That Early Bird over a .3-mile stretch of Lake Dr. – and Basalt, Brown Butter Creperie & Café, Chez Olga, GOJO Ethiopian Cuisine, The Pita House, Tamales Mary, Wolfgang’s and Yesterdog just steps from the intersection of Lake Dr. and Wealthy St. (Eastown’s other main artery).

If you’re thirsty, Mulligan’s Pub is one of the city’s best dive bars, Pursuit of Happiness Co. is a casual-yet-chic bubbly bar and High Tea GR recreates the British tradition of teatime. For late-night entertainment, head to Eastown Sports Bar to watch the big game and kick back with a cold beer, Billy’s Lounge for live music and dancing, and Circle Theatre (on the campus of Aquinas College) for stage productions and concerts.

Shopping runs the gamut from clothing stores like The New Yorker Menswear and Freshwater Whale Boutique to gift stores like Rebel and Sprit Dreams. You can shop for books at Argos Book Shop and Redux Books, records and pop culture collectibles at Vinyl Alchemy, and nostalgic candy at Sticky Fingers. DIYers can make candles at Wax Poetic Candle Bar and take cooking classes at The Local Epicurean.

Need a breather? Visit Wilcox Park, a century-old greenspace with modern ballfields, tennis courts, a playground and splash pad. The park is adjacent to Aquinas College, which offers a trail system through wooded areas around the campus.

Wealthy Street

One of Grand Rapids’ oldest streets, Wealthy existed even before Judge Jefferson Morrison extended the city’s boundary to include it and named it after his second wife, Wealthy Davis, in 1850. Today, Wealthy Street is one of the city’s main east-west routes, stretching 4.4 miles from near John Ball Zoo, west of downtown GR, to East Grand Rapids.

Uptown’s Wealthy Street Business District spans 14 blocks of this historic road, from Union Ave. in the west to Fuller Ave. The west end of the district is anchored by Wealthy Street Bakery, serving house-made artisan pastries, breads, sandwiches and pizzas, and Art of the Table, a beloved gourmet shop. Opened in 2002 and 2003, respectively, these businesses helped jump-start the revitalization of what had been a long-neglected neighborhood. Two decades later, Wealthy Street is a bustling commercial corridor where historic buildings have been renovated and occupied by trendy restaurants, shops and other businesses – including the Wealthy Theatre, built in 1911 and restored in 1999 to present live theater, music, comedy shows and more.

There are more than 20 dining and drinking establishments here, including Donkey Taqueria, Electric Cheetah, Forty Acres Soul Kitchen, Hancock, Good Judy’s Organic Market & Café, Good Truckin’ Diner, Testa Rossa Pizzeria, Thai Table, The Winchester and Zivio. Wet your whistle at The Bradbury Café, Chartreuse Sisters, The Grey Rabbit Gallery Lounge, Mammoth Distilling Cocktail Lounge, The Meanwhile Bar, Rowster Coffee, Scorpion Hearts Club, Speciation Artisan Ales, Squibb Coffee & Wine Bar and Sacred Springs Kombucha.

Indulge your sweet tooth at Mokaya Chocolate, Pinkie’s Ice Cream & Desserts, and Popnotch Goods. Find the perfect fragrance at Fox Naturals and make your own candles at Sable Candle Co. Shop for clothing at the Basic Bee Boutique and Lee & Birch, sports gear at Feral Grand Rapids and Paddle North, items for the home at The Counting House and Plant Shop, and jewelry at Dime & Regal. There are nearly 100 businesses in all!

Keeping Uptown Special

Uptown Grand Rapids, Inc. (UGRI) helps maintain the area’s unique culture by cultivating vibrant, one-of-a-kind spaces that enrich the lives of residents, visitors and business alike. The non-profit organization’s efforts range from beautification projects – like the 37 painted murals, crosswalks, storm drains and utility boxes included in the self-guided Uptown Public Art Walking Tour – to working with the organizers of downtown Grand Rapids-based ArtPrize to expand the boundaries of the world’s most attended public art event to include Uptown for the first time in 2024.

Uptown Events

ArtPrize adds to a year-round schedule of special events and community gatherings in Uptown. The Uptown Shop Hop every December is an extra-festive shopping experience featuring free trolley rides between the four districts, streetside entertainment and local shops that pull out all the holiday stops. The Eastown Bizarre (June) and Eastown Street Fair (September) are family-friendly celebrations of arts, crafts, food and music. The Eastown Howl-o-Ween Party (October) includes pet-friendly vendors, a craft beer tent, live music and a costume contest for dogs and their humans. 

Visit the UGRI Events page for exact dates for these and many other Uptown happenings.

Visiting Uptown

It’s easy to get to Uptown from any location in and around Grand Rapids, using 1-96, US-131, Fulton St. or Lake Dr. There are more 800 parking spots throughout the area, most in metered lots and on-street spaces. Bike lanes are clearly marked and each district has ample bike parking and a bike repair station.

Grand Rapids’ award-wining Rapid Bus system is an excellent public transportation option. Bus routes 4, 5, 6 and 14 make numerous stops throughout Uptown, traveling between downtown GR and points south and east.

UGRI says “There Always Something Up in Uptown” – come experience it all!