A Quick (and Slightly Sassy) History of Grand Rapids

Welcome to Grand Rapids — a city known for furniture, craft beer, and confusing people who try to explain it to their out-of-town friends.

It’s not quite a big city, not quite a small town. It’s not Detroit, and it’s definitely not Chicago. But it’s got history, hustle, and a lot more character than people give it credit for.

Let’s take a look back at how this little Michigan city earned its stripes — and how it ended up with vintage shops like ours tucked between a tattoo studio and a gay bar.

Furniture. So Much Furniture.

Back in the 1800s, Grand Rapids became known as Furniture City. This wasn’t just a nickname — it was a full-on industry takeover. Factories, lumber mills, and cabinet shops lined the Grand River. At one point, over 40 different companies were cranking out chairs, desks, and things to sit on while regretting your life choices.

Big names like Steelcase, Herman Miller, and Kindel all trace their roots here. Even the White House had Grand Rapids–made furniture.

So yes — we are historically excellent at places to put your butt.

Beer, Bicycles, and a Downtown Glow-Up

In the 2000s, Grand Rapids started shaking off its "quiet Midwest town" vibes. The furniture factories were mostly gone, but in their place? Breweries. A lot of breweries.

Founders helped lead the charge, and suddenly Grand Rapids crowned itself Beer City USA. (It’s not official, but we’re rolling with it.)

At the same time, old buildings were getting renovated. People started moving downtown again. Coffee shops popped up. Restaurants opened. Artists moved in. And then came…

ArtPrize, Weird Sculptures, and Civic Pride

In 2009, a wild thing happened: someone launched a city-wide art competition where anyone could enter and everyone could vote. That’s ArtPrize, and it made the city come alive every fall with installations, murals, and strangers arguing about whether a giant pencil counts as “art.”

And yes — that big red sculpture downtown? That’s the Calder. It’s called La Grande Vitesse, which sounds fancier than “the big red thing.” It’s iconic. It’s divisive. It’s ours.

Famous People You May Not Know Are From Here

Grand Rapids has quietly produced some notable folks:

And while she’s not from here, Madonna’s family is — which means we’re claiming her just a little.

SoDIV: The Grit, The Good Stuff, The Goldmine

Head a few blocks south of the heart of downtown and you’ll find South Division, or as the locals call it, SoDIV.

This stretch of the city is full of creative, community-rooted energy. It’s home to:

SoDIV is where you go for discovery — where every storefront tells a story and nothing is mass-produced.

Why We Love It Here

Look — Grand Rapids isn’t flashy. But it’s smart, creative, a little off-center, and always evolving.

Kind of like vintage.

Whether you’re a local who’s watched the city grow or a visitor stumbling across something unexpected, there’s magic here. And we’re proud to be a part of it — right here in SoDIV, right next to a gay bar and a tattoo shop, right where we belong.