Winter Greetings To You!
As we hit the full stride of the holiday season, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2020 in Uptown, and to recognize that while it has been a year like none other, with challenges beyond any of our wildest expectations, our organization has so much to be grateful for. Of those, the most important, is you, and your steadfast support of our local businesses, all year long.
Due to the pandemic, our businesses have had to adjust course countless times over the past months, each time showing incredible feats of determination, ingenuity, and creativity, all in an effort to be able to continue to still serve and provide to you. However, those efforts are all for naught without you. And time and time again, you’ve showed us through your purchases and patronage, that you recognize and appreciate these efforts. Just one of many examples of this is your recent participation in our Season of Shop Hop. So many of you make extra effort to keep your holiday shopping and gift-giving dollars here, in our community. Know that without a doubt, this makes a world of difference to so many of us.
We thank you for keeping Uptown thriving, even during difficult times. We know that with your continued support through the months to come, brighter days are on their way. We’ll be here from now till then (and beyond)! Continue to support local, and in return, we promise we’ll continue to be the spot to find brag-worthy places and experiences, amazing food and drinks, incomparable service offerings, and above all, an business community who is proud and grateful to have you here.
With wishes for a continued holiday of health and comfort to you all,
Your friends at Uptown GR Inc.
WINTERTIME IN UPTOWN
Thus far, we have been blessed with an unusually mild winter season, but, as we Michiganders all know, this will inevitably come to pass and will likely do so, in the rather near future! Uptown and its businesses have been working to continue offering new and creative ways for you to enjoy fun, COVID-safe experiences in our district, with everything from online experiences and classes, website shopping options, heated outdoor dining options, curbside and home deliveries offered, and more.
It will be imperative to continue to support and shop our local businesses, after the holiday season. And we have so much to offer you to make that easy to do! Did you know? Uptown boasts:
- 64+ retail shops, boutiques, fine grocers, and galleries
- 22+ coffee shops and sweeteries
- 59+ dining, drinking, and entertainment establishments
- 68+ salons, spas, health centers, and wellness studios
- and more than 125 service-providing businesses, as well
A few tools to help you to keep us top of mind for your wintertime shopping, dining, and business needs:
- GRNOW Winter Outdoor Dining Guide and Map for Grand Rapids
- Experience GR’s Winter Spaces for Outdoor Dining Guide
- Information regarding the #supportourgrbiz challenge
- lovelocalgr.com
- Follow your favorite Uptown business via their social media channels; this is a wonderful and easy way to support local and stay in-the-know
- Follow (and use) the hashtags #supportourgrbiz, #whatsuptown, and #grandrapidsuptown, with your social accounts
Additionally, We encourage you to follow our own Uptown instagram and facebook pages, as well as our blog. We’ll help spread the word about the fun and cool ways to support our local businesses, throughout the winter months ahead.
NAVIGATING UPTOWN
While we have you, here’s a refresher on who we are, and some helpful information on how to navigate our district.
Uptown GR is comprised of four unique business districts located just east of the heart of Downtown Grand Rapids. Those districts are Eastown, East Hills, Wealthy Street, and East Fulton. All four districts are walkable and packed with locally owned businesses to suit your every mood. We have specialty stores and retail offerings, dining, drinking, nightlife and entertainment, and a wide roster of service-based businesses as well. Our collective mission is to support and sustain a strong and vibrant urban district for visitors, residents, and volunteers.
For further color on just who Uptown is, we encourage you to visit our website. We’ve geared the site to be a useful tool for learning about the district and in planning your next visit. In addition to the map pictured above, you’ll find an incredibly useful interactive business directory, which can be used to find businesses by business district location, business category, or business name.
*image: The Counting House, located on Wealthy Street/photo credit: @samantharuthphotos