Visit to Grand Rapids Downtown Market

One thing I’m always sure to do when traveling is visit food markets. It’s a delicious way to get a taste of the regional flavor and to mingle with the locals. Some of the best meals I’ve had while traveling were either at food markets, or I bought ingredients at the market and prepared the meals myself. Meals as simple as fresh meats, cheeses, and bread from an outdoor market in Orvieto, Italy; to “Greek pizza” and baklava at Kenosha HarborMarket in Kenosha, Wisconsin. So when I was planning to visit Grand Rapids, Michigan, last fall, I knew I needed to visit the Downtown Market.

Grand Rapids Downtown Market is a year-round, 24-vendor indoor hall. During the warmer months, there is an outdoor market, as well, featuring local farmers and artisans. I visited in October and only the indoor market hall was open; it was fine with me. I was there on a weekday, right after the lunchtime rush, and I practically had the entire place to myself. ArtPrize had just ended the day before but many pieces were still on display throughout the city; some were at Downtown Market, so I felt like I didn’t really miss out on ArtPrize.

On display: A B See? by Joel Schoon-Tanis

The merchants I encountered were eager to talk with me about their products. I spent a great deal of time speaking with a young lady from Montello Meat Market. She explained that their meats are all-natural and all from local pastures. On certain days of the week, they conduct whole-animal butchery on-site and shoppers can watch the butchers in action (I’m really not into that sort of thing but I know others are). I was just amazed by the variety of meats available in their display cases. I spied everything from cubed goat to linguiça. There were so many things I wanted to buy at the market but it was the beginning of my trip. Instead, I just hung out in a comfy chair at Simpatico Coffee, enjoying my mocha and the complimentary wifi. I did make another stop at Downtown Market on my last day in Grand Rapids to pick up goodies for home, namely caramel corn from Dorothy & Tony’s Gourmet Popcorn; pecorino from Aperitivo; and cupcakes from Sweetie-licious Bake Shoppe.

Sweetie-licious Bake Shoppe

As they say at Downtown Market, the “produce isn’t the only green thing” about the place. You see, Grand Rapids Downtown Market is the first LEED-certified market in the U.S. It was built using all recycled, repurposed, and reused materials; and built upon geothermal wells, which provide heating and cooling for the building, thereby conserving energy. It’s all quite fascinating.

Looking down on the vendor hall

Grand Rapids Downtown Market is a destination all on its own. It will become a regular stop for me on my future trips to Grand Rapids, and I’m especially excited to check out the outdoor market this summer.