Downtown Market Grand Rapids

Reviews 5

NI

Nick Culver

Ive been living downtown for 6 years now and Im happy that Ive relocated from down state. I like all the neat things going on with the downtown but I cant abide this place. Ok, I like the fish market and I like having them great guys prepare me some jumbo shrimp to eat at their raw bar area but like EVERYTHING here...its extremely overpriced. I dont care how local, sustainable, hand-made, Eco-friendly, "one of a kind", or delicious the product [might] be; $3.75 for a small, 3-ounce scoop of Ive cream is way too much. Im not cheap and I dont mind paying for quality but this place is ridiculous. $10 for a jar of jelly? $3.50 for a tiny piece of chocolate from a drab, boring display case?! Even the taco place, which relocated from the ghetto Barrio of Wyoming has easily managed to turn me off as a long-time customer, due to their purchase prices being increased over 40%. I was embarrassed to bring my out of town guests there, who also have plenty of cash to spend. They were in chuckles as soon as they stepped into the place, viewing the kitschy, pink, overpriced baked goods seller, then moving on down the path to admire $4 per pound tomatoes that resembled what I can only compare to a bruised, battered victim of domestic-abuse. But hey, the tall, skinny hipster with the skinny jeans and heavily tailored mustache was very friendly; I wonder if he will still be able to eat vegan once his student loans for his Anthropology, fine arts, or philosophy undergrad matures. The charcuterie and wine bar is pretty decent. And the atmosphere is worth checking out. I think itll last but only if they are allowed to stay open later than 7pm. I wish they sold sandwiches to order, rather than some goofy artesian grilled cheese they tried peddling to me at a steep $9; I dont care if the cheese was made with milk procured from the breast of a mermaid located in the Behring sea! This place could be cool if they took a lesson from Dearborns open-air marketplaces or Detroits Eastern Market. It really is nothing more than a place in which destined to fail local businesses have united under a beautiful facade to sell sub-par artisan goods. This wasnt the kind of place me or any of my friends had in mind while we watched it slowly being built and I wonder if its the desired result of the people who invested into the venue.

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Julie Falther

Let me start with saying my husband do not mind paying good money for good quality foods even if it costs a little more. I love Fish Lads even though it can be pricey because I can get fresh never frozen fish/seafood. I always put money aside in our budget to get fish. The Field ad Fire $3 baguettes are a must and are affordable. Even a treat once a month of a pint of the ice cream there is within our reach. That being said, everything else is way over priced. I get the concept of the market, it is a great idea. However, I do not think this is an inviting place and the atmosphere that is created is the Im better than you atmosphere (which seems to be popping up a lot lately). May of the vendors do not give you the time of day even though you are there to purchase. The prices are so high that it is not realistic to buy a lot of weekly items. Apertivo is way over priced and many of the cheeses can be found at Meijer on Beltline (Benedictine) or at the Cheese Lady on Fulton at a much better price and the service is a lot better! I am starting to see that the people who fund these big projects are not keeping in mind the average Grand Rapids citizen and are trying to make everything posh. What they actually are doing is pushing away all the people who make Grand Rapids what it is. I much rather buy great fresh produce at the Fulton Market and shop at other small local businesses for all the other items I need (meat, cheese, coffee, spices, etc). Lets support the little guys who give great service and just as good product at a great price! Shout out to Fulton Market, Kingmas, Franks, Cheese lady, and Marthas Vineyard.

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Roxanne N

I was at SLOWs BBQ on Sunday, August 9th with my husband and 3 nieces. It was a bit chaotic, it is, unfortunately, nothing like the slows in Detroit. It is cafeteria style & you have to stand in a really long line that wraps around picnic tables where patrons are dining. When you get up front to order, you have different stations where you can get different items on the menu (hot appetizers, meat by pound, ribs, sandwiches etc...). Then you pay, but you have to get your drinks from a cocktail waitress that approaches you in line, or at the table. If you order a drink in line, the you have to carry that, with your meal to the table when done ordering. You then have 2 different tabs to pay (meal & drinks)- this process is EXTREEMLY inefficient and annoying. If I were seated, I would have been enjoying conversation with my family instead. The poor cocktail waitress probably doesnt make much in tips since the meal was on a separate tab. I did not like the experience at all. I like how it is done in Detroit, the waitress takes care of you and brings you everything you need...and the servers probably make much more in tips too. On another note, the ribs and the Yardbird? sandwich were delish! I just didnt like the chaos/hassle of serving myself in a very crowded room and having a separate tab for drinks.

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DM Wade

Such a fantastic addition to GR! Highly recommend. There are a variety of options for dining in or take out or a quick bite while shopping. The bread shop alone is worth the trip. Slows (brisket, cornbread) and Fish Ladder (halibut fish & chips, chowder, oysters) are two of my favorites. Sweetie Pies has something for everyones sweet tooth, high quality all the way! There are healthy options, inexpensive options- Rak Thai, always fresh with great flavors, awesome asada tacos for $3, popcorn (white cheddar) that is so fresh, and the best tuna Ive tasted from Fish Ladder. I am not a huge fan of Appetivo; the wine is a little steep and the couple Ive tried were not all that good. My 4 star rating is because you cannot have a glass of wine or cocktail and roam through the market while you shop. Most others Ive visited allow this. Napa has happy hours w/pairing options that would be a nice addition to the GR Mkt. This makes the experience even better. Get on board GRDM! Still a GEM. If you have not been, youre missing out.

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Maria Marckini

Went there on a Monday, every vendor my mother and I walked past seemed unpleasant and unwelcoming. We bought some muffins to split and try at the vendor right when we walked in and the service was very unfriendly, plus the muffins were slightly dry. We walked around to see what was offered before we bought anything and a lot of the vendors didnt welcome us and ignored us as we walked up to them. I was going to buy some fresh baked bread, but after walking around I no longer had any desire to buy anything from them. I know it was a Monday, but if I had the privilege to have one of those spots to sell my products- I would be greeting anyone who walks by with a friendly smile.They have such a great opportunity and they seemed to be standing around talking to one another in the back of their booths, wasting it. I might try to visit again to see if things have changed- but I would choose the Fulton Street Market over the Downtown Market any day.

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