New West Michigan Businesses & Restaurants to Try
Hey old-timer.
We’re pretty sure you already know about all of the old standbys in West Michigan. The question is – are you ready to try something new, maybe for your next date night idea?
Hope so, because we’ve scouted the area to create this list of new restaurants and local businesses that look like something to get excited about.
From food to retail to family activities, Grand Rapids is growing into a town that has something for everyone.
Running List of New Restaurants
New restaurants are continuously added to this list. Not every new shop in town is automatically listed, though.
List criteria: the new restaurants must be located in Greater Grand Rapids, either local or the first-to-market of a notable chain, and, we think it’s newsworthy.
juice bar & cafe
Clean Juice Cascade
5563 28th St SE Suite A, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
OpeNED: MARCH 9, 2024
Serving up organic juice, smoothies, and cafe food such as salads, wraps, and sandwiches.
mexican
Mercadito
1202 W. Fulton St, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
OpeNED: FEBRUARY 28, 2024
Offers authentic Mexican snacks and drinks, sandwiches, salads, desserts and other quick lunch items, including vegan options.
american cuisine
Scholar
9 and 11 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
OpenED: OCTOBER 19, 2023
A high-end restaurant serving early American cuisine in a luxury setting. Will have seated dining, private spaces and a cozy lounge, while preserving and celebrating the unique history of its location, formerly J. Gardella’s Tavern.
american cuisine
BJ’s Brewhouse
3445 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
OpenED: OCTOBER 2, 2023
A great sit-down restaurant for a causal date or for a family night out (if with young kids, you may even get complimentary goldfish and fruit cups to help tide them over to appetizers). Typical yet delicious brewhouse fare, specialty beers, and world-famous Pizookie for dessert.
ice cream
Elsa’s
121 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
OpenED: JUN 30, 2023
Shop serving ice cream, frozen yogurt and other treats, as well as a host of free toppings that can be added to any frozen yogurt or ice cream purchase. Featuring ice cream from Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream, based in Ludington and MOO-ville Creamery, a family business based in Nashville, Michigan. Also has five soft-serve machines serving a variety of frozen yogurt, frozen custard, soft-serve ice cream and dairy-free Dole Whip.
pasta
Myrth
7423 River St SE, Ada, MI 49301
OpenED: JUNE 17, 2023
A new restaurant from James Beard Award-winning chef Paul Berglund in downtown Ada. Featuring wood-fired artisan pizzas and freshly-made pastas.
dessert bars
Qwake Bar Bakes
2927 28 St SE, Kentwood, MI 49512
OpenED: MAY 26, 2023
A family-owned and operated bakery that specializes in delicious and creative dessert bars. Menu consists of high-quality, “from-scratch” baked goods available in shop or catering.
cotton candy
Fluff Buckets Cotton Candy
3917 Leland Ave NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321
OpenED: APR 25, 2023
West Michigan’s premier cotton candy business with every fluff’n flavor of cotton candy, ice cream and delicious drinks. Featuring Build-A-Bucket concoctions with over 50 unique cotton candy flavors, ice cream, toppings and sauces.
tea
High Tea GR
1522 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
OpenED: APRIL 13, 2023
A classic, British tea time tradition featuring a variety of tea, finger sandwiches, scones, tarts and more. Food will all be made in-house by a pastry chef.
charcuterie
Graze Craze
6275 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
OpenED: MARCH 6, 2023
Graze-style charcuterie boards, made in house perfect for hosting a party, catering a work event, or a romantic lunch for two. Completely customizable made-to-order assortments with farm-fresh produce and house-made ingredients.
chicken
Chick’nCone
2090 Celebration Drive NE, Suite 124, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
OpenED: MARCH 9, 2023
Grab & go comfort food featuring crispy chicken tossed with your favorite sauce and served in a hand rolled waffle cone. Also serving chicken sandwiches, tenders, loaded fries and shakes.
colombian
Pochis Sweet Designs
44 Ionia SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
OpenED: JAN 16, 2023
The founder of Pochis Sweet Designs, specializing in chocolate covered strawberries and other sweets, is expanding her business with a new Colombian cafe and restaurant. The menu features coffee drinks, like Colombian espresso and cappuccino, tea, coconut lemonade, shakes and specialty drinks. There’s also Colombian food like empanadas, arepas, patacones, salchipapas, and Colombian-style hot dogs.
pastries
Chartreuse Sisters
800 Wealthy Street Southeast, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
OpenED: JAN 14, 2023
A sister-run patisserie offering unique flavors often inspired by their French-American heritage. Farm to patisserie seasonal monthly menu, featuring pastries, NA cocktails, and espresso. Their building is a beautifully restored old Pharmacy that had been abandoned since 1970!
bagels
Rad Bagels
435 Ionia Avenue Southwest, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
OpenED: JAN 13, 2023
Radical bagel shop with wild flavors. Featuring organic ingredients, whole grains and sourdough. Unique bagel and waffle sandwiches.
mexican
Tia Juana
2289 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
OpenED: JAN 5, 2023
Tia Juana models its menu from Tijuana, Mexico, which has the most amazing authentic street tacos in the world. Taqueria with authentic tacos, fresh tortillas made from scratch daily, fresh ingredients, and homemade salsa.
New Businesses
art studio
Pinspiration Wyoming
2300 Health Dr SW Suite B, Wyoming, MI 49519
OpenED: MARCH 15, 2024
Remember that DIY crat you’ve been wanting to try? Pinspiration gives you the space to actually do it! From paint & sip nights to glow-in-the-dark splatter paint rooms, this studio’s got something fun for everyone.
play cafe
Itsy Bitsy Play Cafe
5426 Northland Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
OpenED: SEPTEMBER 23, 2023
This cafe is a warm, engaging place for young kids to play while their parents enjoy a cup of coffee!
retail store
Vinyl Alchemy
1505 Wealthy St SE Suite 1507, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
OpenED: MAY 26, 2023
Feeling nostalgic? Pop in to rifle through some classic vinyl records, peruse the CD collection, and check out the autographed posters
fitness center
Great Lakes Circus Center
3516 Roger B Chaffee Memorial Blvd, Grand Rapids, MI 49548
Opened: MAR 12, 2023
Circus arts studio providing training opportunities and offering a variety of classes including aerial silks, lyra, partner acro, conditioning, flexibility and more!
They seek to provide safe, accessible circus training and professional growth opportunities for youth and adults in a noncompetitive, collaborative, social enriching, nurturing environment.
Looking for More New Restaurants & Businesses
What new places are you excited about in Grand Rapids?
We are always looking for the best new restaurants for date nights, fun new spots for families, or just plain cool new businesses.
Leave your suggestions in the comments!
Everywear Menswear Store, downtown Rockford!
A Non Alcoholic bottle shop selling NA beers, wines, and spirits opened today, November 17 at 434 Leonard Ave NW Grand Rapids 49504. They are called Alt City NA bottles and beer
Renew Mama Studio! The place for moms and families! Everything wellness!
TOOM, a Mediterranean fast food place just opened in the Cascade Meijer area, and it is so good!