Gaslight Village: The Charming Heart of East Grand Rapids

Glimmering gas lamps that line the streets give the heart of east Grand Rapids its name, Gaslight Village. This walkable community is centered on the beautiful Reeds Lake. In the 1870s this area was a popular summertime destination for picnicking, boating, and sunlit walks. For years this spot was known as Ramona Park, an amusement park that was owned and operated by Grand Rapids. Few people know that President Gerald R. Ford even worked at a concession stand there! Wealthy Street is now lined with retail shops, commercial businesses, and several trendy restaurants. East Grand Rapids has a lot to offer. Take an art class, go shopping, and grab an ice cream cone from Jersey Junction while you wander around the charming Gaslight Village. 

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Services 

Bang Blow Dry Bar and Salon

Bang is a full-service salon in the heart of Gaslight Village that specializes in blowouts, extensions, and custom hair color. Look and feel beautiful with leaders in hairstyling and salon guest services. Bang is dedicated to inspiring self-love and confidence. They even offer three different monthly membership packages to help guarantee you your best look, by working with your very own personal hairstylist.   

Coiffeteria Salon

Coiffeteria is a woman-owned and women-staffed salon that provides brow, lashes, facials, and custom hair treatments. Check out this salon for an amazing, customized service by an extremely talented stylist. Coiffeteria goes above and beyond to ensure that everyone feels valuable and beautiful! To make this place even better, their mission is to spread seeds of happiness while at the same time honoring our earth and bodies with healthy products for our skin and hair. 

Eau Dance

Dance is an art and Eau Dance is ready to ignite your creative fire! This studio offers private training, adult fitness, and dance technique classes. The benefits of professional dance education can last a lifetime, especiallythrough self-expression, sharing joy, having fun, and practicing healthy movement! EAU Dance was founded by Emily Underwood in early 2016, to provide accessibility to dance and performing arts education to the community. EAU Dance also offers needs based scholarships to dancers/families who exhibit passion and dedication to their skill development.

I’m An Artist Community Studio

The moment you walk through the doors of this art studio, the artistic juices begin to pump. This Art Studio’s schedule and event calendar is bursting with a wide range of artsy and creative classes. There’s sure to be an art class or event that sparks your interest. I’m An Artist Community Studio offers single adult art classes, workshops, four week adult art courses, student art courses, homeschool art courses, toddler storytime, spring/summer  break art camp, clubs, and parties—as well as a variety of community times and monthly special events. 

Pilates in East

Get your first class free at Pilates in East. This fun exercise can help to strengthen, stretch, realign, and balance your whole body. Pilates in East offers new client specials for a personal introduction to pilates and the studio. Group classes are hosted daily! Ahmé is the pilates guru and Founder/Owner of Pilates in East. She has extensive advanced training with over 24 years of experience, and  is a nationally sought-after Master Pilates Instructor and presenter.

Stretch Lab

Have you heard of the assisted stretching and flexibility training classes at Stretch Lab? It’s a pretty unique wellness concept! This studio offers 25 or 50-minute one-on-one customized sessions, to help you meet your flexibility goals. At the Stretch Lab, a trained reflexologist will guide you through a series of stretches to help to increase flexibility and improve your range of motion. 

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Dining

Bagel Kitchen

This is the place for mouthwatering boiled and hand-rolled authentic bagels. The Bagel Kitchen originally began in Costa Rica, then moved to serve the East Grand Rapids community in 2020. From delicious breakfast sandwiches, catering boxes, and changing specials—this menu is full of many tasty options. You have got to take a look! 

Big Bob’s Pizza

If you’ve been looking for a nice little pizza pub, Big Bob’s Pizza is a family-friendly bar and restaurant that is just that. Free popcorn and big-screen TVs offer a comfortable atmosphere to enjoy a slice of pizza and a full bar. Big Bob’s Pizza loves to serve the community and is a host to many Gaslight Village events.  

Bowdies Chophouse

From escargot to ceviche to seared pork belly—there’s something here that’s sure to satisfy your appetite! Bowdies Chophouse offers the type of high-class quality you’d expect to find in Lower Manhattan. The rustic elegant atmosphere is the perfect place to experience the wonder of a Bowdies Chophouse steak. This is the perfect spot if you’re looking for incredible quality food nestled within Gaslight Village. 

Clean Juice

Clean Juice is a juice and food bar that you can trust. This locally owned, certified organic juice and smoothie bar provides quick access to organic, healthy food. The menu is brimming with flavor, fresh juices, smoothies, protein smoothies, acai bowls, avocado toast, and organic, cold-pressed juice, and juice cleanses. This is the place to enjoy a hand-crafted, high-quality treat in a friendly environment. 

Gaslight Kitchen Asian Cuisine

Gaslight Kitchen is an Asian restaurant that specializes in Chinese-American dishes. Whether it’s a quick stop for lunch or a full-course dinner for the entire family to enjoy, Gaslight Kitchen is ready to serve you like family. This restaurant does not disappoint. 

Jersey Junction

The word “Jersey” originated from the owner’s father, who told her that Jersey cows produced the best milk and hence the best ice cream. The word “Junction” means a place where roads come together. Jersey Junction offers the community some of the best ice creams in town. It’s a place for people to come together for ice cream, hence the name. This enduring parlor that offers 28 flavors of made-in-Michigan frozen treats plus candy and light lunches was originally established in 1963 by Doris VanAllsburg. Jersey Junction is a highlight of Gaslight Village and a piece of Grand Rapids history.

José Babushka’s

Jose Babushkas is a contemporary eatery that cooks up some pretty unique recipes. This east Grand Rapids eatery is a place where Mexican staples share the menu with Polish classics. The diverse cuisine here is crafted with a mix of old favorites and new house-made flavors centered around fresh, premium, authentic ingredients. This is a great place to enjoy made-from-scratch salsas, a full bar, and outdoor seating. 

Kilwins

Treat yourself, friends, family, co-workers, and clients to this old-fashioned confectionery. Kilwins is the place to peruse chocolates, ice cream, handmade sweets, and gift baskets. It’s always a hard choice to make when choosing from their high-quality chocolates, hand-paddled fudge, and Kilwins Original Recipe ice cream along with other delightful treats! 

Olive’s Restaurant and Bar

Because this spot is located just a few blocks from Reeds Lake, plan to spend a little extra time walking down by the water. Olive’s Restaurant and Bar is a busy eatery for seasonal American dishes with a global twist. This restaurant offers upscale food in a casual establishment. Olive’s is chef-driven and features a seasonal menu always prepared from scratch using mindfully sourced ingredients. Can you say, “Yum!” 

Pera Pizzeria 

Pera Pizzeria provides Mediterranean dishes in an authentic, rustic interior that makes you feel like you’re eating along the Mediterranean Sea. The menu offers authentic, organic, and simple Mediterranean cuisine. Real wood fire in authentic Italian brick ovens is used to make the pizza. Stop by and check out the daily specials and list of organic wines. They also offer subs, salads, dinner entrées (like their famous shish kabobs), homemade desserts, and more. 

Rose’s

Rose’s offers a pleasing fusion of American and Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant has sentimental value for many West Michiganders. Rose’s is the last remaining building from the Romona Park era— – possibly the most colorful chapter in the history of east Grand Rapids. Spend an afternoon on the four-season deck, trying the legendary caramel corn with a, wine glass in hand, overlooking the lake.

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Shops

Agate & Herb

This little boutique is a collection of all of the owner,  BreAnna’s favorite things. Agage & Herb offers a delightful collection of curated and handmade goods that make great gifts for loved ones, or yourself. This shop was not only created to cater to jewelry lovers but to anyone who might be in need of a unique gift or item for self-care.

Crescent Floral and Gifts

Are you fixing to admire some stunning flower arrangements? Crescent Floral and Gifts is a locally owned and operated florist company. Grand Rapids florists offer a huge inventory of fresh flowers, tropicals, plants, succulents, air plants, european dish gardens, contemporary arrangements, traditional arrangements, silk arrangements, weddings, memorial and funeral designs, gifts, gourmet baskets, fruit baskets, gift baskets, and chocolates. 

Fromage

Fromage is a boutique gourmet and gift store tucked into Gaslight Village. This shop carries products that bring people together. The food you’ll find here expresses different cultures and tells a story about history. Fromage believes that food and cooking brings families and friends together.

Laurel & Jack

Laurel & Jack is a locally owned boutique that offers trendy clothes and more for the whole family. This women’s, children’s, and men’s boutique is full of a variety of clothing based on current trends at an affordable price! The owner, Jaclyn, is a Grand Rapids native. Her goal is to provide the community with a high-end shopping experience at an affordable price. Laurel & Jack, is here to help and encourage people to feel their best!

Pink Lemonade

Pink Lemonade is a family-owned boutique that specializes in cute things for children. Jill and Paula, a mother-daughter team, opened their first little shop in October 2015. They believe in the art of gift-giving and celebrating the little things, and they have a variety of products for everyone. Whether you’re shopping for your grandmother, mom, baby, or even a bride-to-be, Pink Lemonade most likely has just what you’re looking for! 

Rosa’s Closet

If you’re looking for upscale brands at affordable prices, look no further! Rosa’s Closet is an upscale resale boutique in east Grand Rapids that offers consignment and high-end, luxury clothing and accessories for women. Lisa and Andy Fredricks purchased Rosa’s Closet in March 2017 to fulfill Lisa’s dream of owning a boutique. 

) In the early 1950s, east Grand Rapids was modernized into a new commercial center. What once was the Jack Rabbit Derby Racer wooden roller coaster is now a bustling mix of shops and restaurants like Bowdies Chophouse, Clean Juice, Athleta, and Agate & Herb. People in the heart of east Grand Rapids are zipping through on bikes, scooters, and on foot as the community recharges in this popular, gas-lamp-lit, east Grand Rapids area.

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Check out some East Grand Rapids Restaurants here.

Stay for the weekend!