Halloween has come and gone, and now that you’re officially sick of candy, it’s time to see what other sweet things there are in Grand Rapids to satisfy your sweet tooth. Here are some of my top picks of shops that sell solely desserts and sweets in Grand Rapids. I must, however, lead with one disclaimer, and say that since these are all local specialty shops, they’re all a little pricier than your average cookie from the grocery store bakery. LE BON MACARON Paris meets Grand Rapids in this quaint shop on Cherry Street. Le Bon Macaron prides itself on the elegance of Paris and creating luxury macarons for all occasions. Le Bon Macaron sells to customers to sit and eat in the café area of the shop, or allows them to be taken to go in spectacularly wrapped gift boxes. The airy pastries come in a huge variety of flavors, ever changing with the seasons and what flavors the bakers want to experiment with. Some of the most classic flavors are chocolate, vanilla, salted caramel, rose lychee, jasmine, and lemon raspberry. Their current seasonal collection is in for the holidays, featuring pumpkin, chocolate cinnamon, champagne, and candy cane, among others. The treats, offered at $2 per macaron, are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and filled with buttercream filling. They’re delectable, and melt in your mouth. You’ll definitely leave wanting more (and a trip to the home of the macaron in Paris). MOKAYA Three words: A chocolate boutique. Yes, you read that right. Although, upon entry into Mokaya it might be unclear whether the associates sell chocolate or art. One look at their store, Instagram feed or website, and you’ll see creations from dark chocolate bars with intricate coat-of-arms-type designs to colored hedgehog and turtle shaped chocolates and truffles. They don’t stop there, though. They create confections, pastries, drinks, ice creams, and frozen treats. That isn’t the extent of Mokaya’s cool factor. Mokaya sources all their chocolate from Latin American countries for fair trade prices and they try to get the rest of their products locally. Every product is made in the Grand Rapids shop and each one is created by hand. These delicious treats are well worth a trip to Wealthy Street! CAKABAKERY
Another fantastic treat spot on Wealthy is the Cakabakery. Tucked in Eastown and owned by Jason Kakabaker, the Cakabakery creates unique treats for all occasions. Whether you need wedding desserts, a birthday cake or a special holiday gift, they create it all. You can order ahead or go to the shop on Wealthy to buy some of the tastiest treats in Grand Rapids. I recommend going in and getting one of their chocolate chip cookies—they could win awards. The Cakabakery also uses locally sourced ingredients, and caters well to food allergies and preferences. Gluten Free and Vegan options are both on the menu and available to be ordered.
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I’m going to be honest here: there are a lot of awesome boutiques in Grand Rapids, but I can’t afford more than a necklace or overpriced card at most of them with the college budget I’m on. I would love to be able to talk about the endless clothes I can buy from all the shops on Wealthy Street, but I can’t remember the last time I actually was able to buy something down there. So, I’m going to focus on the more affordable boutiques of Grand Rapids. Who doesn’t want to know where to get the best books and dorm room/house décor?
REBEL RECLAIMED Rebel Reclaimed is my all-time favorite store in Grand Rapids. It’s located in Eastown, just past That Early Bird Café and Sheldon Cleaners. I’m pretty sure I could live in this store. It’s white brick exterior has tons of windows, always featuring amazing seasonal displays—but it only gets better inside. The store has the most adorable cards, gorgeous jewelry, fun t shirts, and loads and loads of stationary. They feature a lot of Grand Rapids or Michigan-specific items including mugs and prints. This store is my go-to for buying gifts for friends, parents, and just about anyone else. PAPERS PLUS Papers Plus sits in the heart of Gaslight Village. Another great place to buy gifts, this store sells international brands such as Kate Spade, Lilly Pulitzer, S’well, and Tervis to name a few. Once again, they have an eclectic mix of merchandise from mugs and water bottles to cards to purses. One of their specialties is monogramming, so it’s a great place to get personalized gifts—if you can think ahead in time to get something monogrammed (it usually takes about two weeks). The owner here is a gem and you’ll leave feeling like you’ve become best friends. It’s also within walking distance to Starbucks, Jersey Junction, and Reeds Lake, so it’s a great area to go to spend an afternoon. BOOKS & MORTAR This local bookstore just opened up on Cherry Street. The owners believe every community should have a small, locally sourced bookstore, and they’re thrilled to bring it to Grand Rapids. They sell books as well as gifts, with many of the gifts being sourced from local vendors due to their commitment to support the area. There are rows of books lined up on white shelves, modern white light fixtures, a kid’s reading corner, and chairs for you to sit and read a book. A great place to go for just a look, or to cozy up with a book for a little while. The owners want this to be a community spot, a place for gathering and conversation, and a place where everyone can find a great book to suit their passions. Whether you’re a total book nerd, or someone who rarely cracks a cover, take a look into this new Grand Rapids gem! Fall is here in West Michigan, and as the air cools down and the leaves change color it's a great time to take advantage of some of the things our beautiful city has to offer.
1. ArtPrize: ArtPrize 8 is in full swing in Grand Rapids from September 21 to October 9. Artists from around the world submit works that are showcased around Grand Rapids. The art is spread through downtown in a variety of places, including the B.O.B., DeVos Place, the Amway Hotel, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and Rosa Parks Circle. Make it a date night and take advantage of the food trucks parked outside the Grand Rapids Art Museum for a cup of coffee or an easy meal, or make it a family scavenger hunt to see who can see the top twenty first. ArtPrize is a great way to support Grand Rapids and see influences from around the globe! 2. Apple Orchards: I probably can't count the number of apple orchards in the Greater Grand Rapids Area. There are numerous small family-run orchards where you can get some fresh apple cider and pick your own Honeycrisps, and some major orchards offering hayrides for kids, apple picking, pre-picked apples, cafe areas, and even donuts. If you want to make sure you get some donuts along with your fresh cider, try Sietsema Orchards in Ada, Robinette's Apple Haus & Winery in Grand Rapids, or Post Family Farm in Hudsonville. While you may have to deal with some lines--especially if you try a Saturday or Sunday afternoon--you will not be disappointed. An orchard visit can be the perfect date, outing with friends, or a great way to get the kids out of the house for an afternoon (they can even expend some energy running up and down the rows of trees). 3. Get your scare on: Arguably (I say this as someone who absolutely hates to be scared), going to a haunted forest or corn maze is a quintessential autumn activity for Midwesterners. I'm told there's just something so wonderful about being completely scared out of your mind for an hour. While my mind can't comprehend wanting to be chased through a forest by a clown holding a chainsaw, getting your scare on makes the list of the can't miss West Michigan fall activities because I think I'm in the minority on this one. Some options for a good scare session:
Whether your goal is to soak up unique art, gorge yourself on freshly picked apples and hot donuts, or spend a night in complete terror, autumn in Grand Rapids has it all. So lace up those boots, pull on that sweater, and get outside and enjoy! |