Chef Drake Harper

11/02/2026

Grand Rapids' food scene keeps getting more interesting. 🍽️

A new restaurant serving authentic Punjabi cuisine, has opened on 1020 28th St. SW in Wyoming, MI. Bringing traditional flavors and dishes from India's Punjab region to West Michigan. It's another sign of the city's growing culinary diversity and a welcome addition for anyone looking to explore global cuisine close to home.

Haveli Authentic Indian Restaurant and Sweets opened its doors in Wyoming last month.

10/28/2026

Downtown Grand Rapids is losing its Panera Bread. The company says declining in-person business led to the decision to close the location. Panera Bread to close downtown Grand Rapids cafe as in-person business declines

Feels like another reminder of how much downtown lunch traffic has changed. Restaurants built around the weekday office crowd are facing a very different reality than they did a few years ago.

What do you think downtown GR needs more of right now: quick lunch spots, destination restaurants, or something else? 🍞🏙️

The owner of the cafe, which opened 13 years ago, said there was not enough in-person business to sustain the downtown location.

10/26/2026

Chef Drake Harper — private chef in Grand Rapids. Dinners, parties, and nights worth remembering.
DM me to book your table.
drakeharper.com

10/01/2026

ArtPrize has downtown buzzing — wild colors, big ideas, and pieces that stop you mid‑stride 🎨✨📸

Downtown visitors have flocked to the 16th ArtPrize, where public voting at John Ball Zoo revealed the top 30 works. The competition runs until Oct. 2 across multiple venues, with an awards + fashion show set for Oct. 3 — the biggest event since 2018.

Public voting continues through Oct. 2 for the 16th annual art competition.

09/23/2026

Brewery Vivant is inviting local residents to help choose a name for its newly converted 3,500‑sq‑ft production space 🍻 at 925 Cherry St. SE. Located in the heart of Grand Rapids’ East Hills neighborhood, the venue reflects the area’s character, history, and creative spirit. It will host weddings, private dinners, and corporate events starting this fall 🎉, with bookings now open for 2027 📅.

Brewery Vivant is converting 3,500 square feet of its former production space into an event venue.

09/19/2026

Meritage Hospitality Group — the Grand Rapids company behind 54 Wendy’s locations in Michigan and all 6 Morning Belle restaurants — has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy .

They’re planning to keep all restaurants open and continue paying employees during the restructuring, pending court approval .
Financial pressure across the broader Wendy’s brand has been hitting hard the past few years, and Meritage says this move is their path to stabilize and rebuild. Meritage cited sustained financial pressure tied to struggles across the broader Wendy's brand over the past few yearss.

GR’s food landscape stays moving — even the big players aren’t immune.

A Grand Rapids company that owns 54 Michigan Wendy's locations and the Morning Belle restaurants has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

09/19/2026

A new Culver's restaurant is planned for Grand Rapids' northeast side to replace a vacant Denny's location. Adding another spot for Butter Burgers, cheese curds, and those late‑night custard runs. The project is expected to boost local dining options (details pending)

A new Culver's restaurant is proposed for Grand Rapids' northeast side, replacing a vacant Denny's.

09/18/2026

Grand Rapids is about to get very saucy.
📍
Poutine Week is back on Michigan St., with 15 spots throwing down their best takes — from classic gravy‑curd goodness to Korean Kalbi poutine and even Canadian pickled versions .
😎
Grab a Poutine Passport and collect stamps as you eat your way through the lineup — prizes included.
Runs Sept 16–27

Fifteen restaurants along Michigan St. are putting their own spin on the Canadian classic through September 27.

09/17/2026

ArtPrize is back this September and Grand Rapids is about to turn into one giant gallery.
Over 1,000 entries across 159 venues in five districts — everywhere you walk, something creative is waiting to grab you.

Public voting opens Friday, Sept. 18 at noon and runs through Oct. 2 at 10 p.m.
Just tap your picks in the ArtPrize web app and let the city know what moved you.
🎨✨

ArtPrize kicks off for 2026, here are the artists and pieces that have won the prestigious international art competition since its inception in 2009.

07/16/2026

Atwater Brewery is leaving its Grand Rapids taproom after 10 years. The space in the Rowe building at 201 Michigan St. NW has already been listed for lease by Bradley Company. A spokesperson said Atwater has until the end of July to vacate the building.

The closure comes after a messy few years of ownership changes. Atwater was sold to Molson Coors’ craft division in 2020, then sold again to Tilray Brands (a cannabis company) four years later. Recently, founder Mark Rieth bought back the Detroit brewery and Grosse Pointe Park taproom — but not the Grand Rapids location, which remained under Tilray’s ownership.

Atwater says they never received communication from Tilray about what would happen to the GR taproom

After changing hands three times in four years, Atwater Brewery is vacating its Grand Rapids location.