The North Monroe business district was once the heart of the booming furniture industry that garnered Grand Rapids the moniker “Furniture City.” The area bustled with industry in the 1800's as the Stickley Brothers Furniture Company and the Berkey & Gay Furniture Company produced some of the world’s finest home furnishings and cabinetry. Today, the historic factories now house upscale condominiums, high-tech offices, cafés, taprooms, art galleries, spas, and salons.
Formerly rundown and decayed, these buildings have experienced a resurrection through renovation, and have become home to a mix of unique shopping and dining experiences. Nestled along the Grand River at the foot of Belknap Hill are a mile of shops that overlook a well-groomed public park and a boardwalk that links the district with over two miles of paved Riverwalk. And there’s plenty of parking in front of the shops.
A Hub for Art and Beauty
Grand Valley Artists, Inc. is where local artists can create, show, and sell their works. “We are the oldest and largest artist organization in West Michigan,” said President Gail Madura. “In May 2007, we will celebrate our fiftieth anniversary.”
The GVA is a combination art studio and gathering space where members come together each month for a presentation of a member’s art. Fiber, glass, oils, watercolors, metal, and photography are just a few of the mediums featured. Art classes, sketch opportunities for life drawing, and gallery shows are regular happenings.
“We provide opportunities for anyone, from the beginning artist to the accomplished artisan, who wants to come in and try out our classes,” Madura said. “We are an incredible source of fresh art for people who are decorating a home and for interior designers looking for art they won’t find anywhere else.”
Another popular gallery is the LaFontsee Gallery/Underground Studio, two floors and 18,000 square feet of one-of-a-kind treasures. Founded in 1987, it is one of the first storefronts to occupy a North Monroe warehouse. In addition to the sale of fine art pieces, the studio offers several in-demand art services including fine art consultation, appraisals, restoration, and art collection management services.
Shoppers who love flowers, gardens, and tableware won’t want to miss a trip to Mulick Floral. Located in the former Brassworks Building, this store is jam-packed with artfully arranged displays of gift items that range from sedate to whimsical. Be prepared to spend some time here; there’s much to see and touch and smell. And be sure to look up. Many wreaths and larger items are displayed near, or hanging from, the rafters.
Bottega Salon invites visitors to pamper themselves with the salon’s massage, pedicure, manicure, and body waxing services, or any of their full line of hair care services. “It’s very relaxing,” said Samantha VandenAkker, a salon employee. “We have fourteen stylists who serve both men and women, and some of our stylists do children’s haircuts, as well.”
Just down the street is Bellezza A Salon & Spa, and further north in the Old North Boundary shopping center is Mike’s Barbershop.
Finding Food and Local Brew
Eateries abound, and there’s something for every taste(bud). Liquid Cargo, a deli and coffee bar, and the Riverfront Deli, both offer fresh in-and-out fare.
J.D. Reardon’s does urban the old fashioned way. “We do the old style “mixology,” that’s what we call it,” said bartender Cheryl Siewinski. “We make all our own mixes from scratch. We do a lot of the old style drinks like Zombies, Old Fashioneds, and Whiskey Sours, and we have an extensive beer and liquor list.”
Reardon’s is proud of the culinary creations of their chef, Peter Davidson. With nightly specials that are out of the ordinary—like fish tacos made with mahi-mahi and Latin slaw—customers can experience taste treats not found anywhere else in the city. “It’s a relaxed atmosphere where people can find something interesting to eat or drink,” Siewinski said. “They’ll be able to taste something new and know that it’s going to be good.”
Down the street is Founder’s Brewing, a microbrewery that produces quaff-able suds such as the dark ruby Dirty Bastard, the malty-sweet Curmudgeon, and the floral-citrus Pale Ale. Founders serves lunch five days a week, and offers an eclectic lineup of local bands on Saturday nights.
There are also a couple of homegrown eateries atop Belknap Hill, in the booming Michigan Street corridor. At the Red Geranium Café, locals know they’ll get good food in hearty portions, served in a friendly diner-style environment. Belly up to the counter for a plate load of home fries and the omelet of the day, or slide into a booth for a cup of homemade soup or a sandwich on homemade bread.
Bagel Beanery, just a ways east, bakes a wide assortment of bagels fresh every day. An assortment of cream cheese spreads, coffees, lattés, soups, and salads round out the menu.
Jumping into the Great Outdoors
The numerous parks scattered through the district are not just ordinary green spaces. The linear park running beside the Grand River offers a winding boardwalk, lush landscaping, and restful sounds of water lapping against the riverbank that creates a sense of spaciousness not often found within city borders.
For railroad buffs, Canal Street Park is the place to find kiosks that display fascinating information on Grand Rapids’ railroad history, and kids of all ages can romp on the nearby playground.
Sixth Street Park, just south of historic Sixth Street Bridge, is home to internationally known sculptor Joseph Kinnebrew’s red steel Kids Katwalk. With its clean lines and balance beam-like risers, the sculpture encourages kids to climb, jump, hop, and sit on it, allowing them to experience art with more than just their eyes. A short walk across the Sixth Street Bridge and two blocks south is another of Kinnebrew’s climb-able sculptures, Grand River Sculpture and Fish Ladder.
The boardwalk is the city’s northern extension of the paved Riverwalk that lines both of the riverbanks from one end of downtown to the other. On the boardwalk, walkers, cyclists, and runners can head south to the CenterCity district, or north to Riverside Park and beyond. Cyclists can wheel through Riverside Park and connect with the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail, which runs past Fifth Third Ball Park and stretches 100 miles further to Cadillac.
Just before dusk on any given day, Lookout Park, atop the 160-foot-high cliff that overlooks North Monroe, plays host to a handful of sunset watchers. This park provides a place of quiet respite high above the city’s hustle and bustle, and a fantastic view of the northwest city with its many steeples and hills, and the river with it’s bridges and dams.
Easily accessed by bike or car, the park runs along Fairview Street and is divided into two small parks by a row of Victorian-era homes. The shady part of Lookout Park (Fairview at Newberry) is a grassy place to throw around a Frisbee or play a game of bocce ball. The sunset-seekers portion of the park lies one block north where Fairview ends. Visitors will often find baseball games in progress at the nearby diamond.
The Belknap Lookout/North Monroe Neighborhood is a where urban living and nature’s gifts—like cliffs, rivers, and sky-painting sunsets—are available to all.
Photographs by Brian Kelly - All Rights Reserved
Image descriptions top to bottom:
Looking toward Monroe North from the Fish Ladder
LaFontsee Galleries is considered one of the finest galleries in the midwest
Interior - Mulick Floral
Bagel Beanery fuels caffeine to Belknap neighborhood
Playground at Canal Park
View from riverwalk toward the 6th St. Bridge and Bridgewater Place
For more information about Belknap-Monroe North visit the:
- Moving Guide
- Investing Guide
Directions to Belknap – Monroe North
From the North:
Take US-131 South toward Grand Rapids and exit at Leonard Street. Turn east (left) on Leonard and proceed across the Grand River to Monroe Avenue. Turn right onto Monroe Avenue and arrive in Belknap – Monroe North neighborhood.
From the East:
Take I-96 West toward Grand Rapids and keep left to take I-196 West toward Downtown Grand Rapids/Holland. Take the Ottawa Ave exit, Exit 77C, toward Downtown.
Stay in the right lane at the bottom of the ramp. Turn right onto Michigan St NW and then turn right onto Monroe Ave NW. Arrive in Belknap – Monroe North.
From the South:
Take US-131 North toward Grand Rapids and merge onto I-196 East via Exit 86A toward Lansing. Take the Ottawa Ave Exit, exit 77C, toward Downtown. Turn slight right onto Ottawa Ave NW and then turn right onto Michigan St NW. Turn right onto Monroe Ave NW and arrive in Belknap – Monroe North.
From the West:
Take I-196 East toward Grand Rapids. Take the Ottawa Ave Exit, exit 77C, toward Downtown. Turn slight right onto Ottawa Ave NW and then turn right onto Michigan St NW. Turn right onto Monroe Ave NW and arrive in Belknap – Monroe North.
Take I-96 East toward Grand Rapids and merge onto US-131 via Exit 31A toward Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo. Merge onto I-196 East via Exit 86A on the left toward Lansing. Take the Ottawa Ave Exit, exit 77C, toward Downtown. Turn slight right onto Ottawa Ave NW and then turn right onto Michigan St NW. Turn right onto Monroe Ave NW and arrive in Belknap – Monroe North.