By Dana Kroll, Uptown Marketing and Communications Specialist
Uptown Grand Rapids, IncUptown GR Inc. is pleased to announce the return of its signature annual event, the Uptown Shop Hop, on Thursday, December 1, 2022. This year marks the event’s 25th anniversary and the organization has celebrated this milestone with unprecedented resources and plans directed towards what is to be its largest single event, to date.
For 25 years, the traditional holiday event has served as an invitation to visit Uptown, for one special evening per year, during which patrons can
holiday shop, eat, visit, enjoy entertainment, and make memories, all while supporting the small and independently owned businesses that are
located throughout its four business districts – Eastown, East Hills, Wealthy Street, and East Fulton.
This year’s event also marks the highly anticipated return of its most popular attraction – the free “jolly trolley” services. The trolleys offer festive
transport between districts and establishments to all event attendees. This is the first year that trolley service will resume, after a two-year hiatus of
cautionary measures put in place due to the pandemic.
Per Ingrid Miller, Uptown GR Inc. Executive Director: “It is our organization’s honor to spearhead this event and create an invitation for the
community and visitors to enjoy our festive district and support our unique local businesses. Shop Hop is an unparalleled regional shopping
experience, but moreover, it is an event created and supported by a community that is the backbone of our neighborhood business districts.”
UGRI has also engaged with several local agencies that together with its own organization have crafted a fresh, bold, new branding and marketing
strategy, in order to amplify the event’s invitation to what it hopes will be its largest audience ever.
Per Peter Jacob, Uptown Marketing Committee Chairperson and Co-Owner of The Cakabakery: “I’m so thrilled to be chairing this event
once again because, as we know, it creates economic opportunity for all parties involved – the shoppers who support our businesses, and
the businesses themselves. I can’t wait to see you in Uptown!”
The Uptown Shop Hop takes place from 3 until 9 pm, during which the district’s nearly 400 small and independently owned businesses
will be ready with everything needed for hyper-local shopping, dining, live entertainment, interactive installations, and more.
Meanwhile, holiday shoppers and experience-seekers are encouraged to visit from now until December 24, where they will find a cheery
and welcoming district that is fully accessible, walkable, and with gracious parking throughout.
Uptown consists of four business districts: Eastown, East Fulton, Wealthy Street, and East Hills. In all climates, Uptown celebrates its people, partnerships, and possibilities. Its mission is to sustain a strong and vibrant urban district through planning, coordinating, and communicating with and between all sectors of the Uptown community and beyond.
For more information about this and all things Uptown, please contact Ingrid Miller.