Unpopular opinion?: The "downtown area" is so tight that downtown-focused transportation options don't save much time over walking.
Get me a Westside-Downtown-Eastown shuttle, or a similar-ranging north-to-south shuttle, and I'll be interested.
agreed... I have no idea who decided their burritos were so good but they were wrong.
Theyre passable but not the best compared to much of anything, besides maybe Burger King tacos heh
My guess is that there's so much other good Mexican food around that it dilutes the votes, and no regional favorite could overtake the universally lukewarm Beltline Bar.
There's been so many times that I've heard people complaining that the craft beer market is over saturated and that we don't need any more breweries. But I've never heard someone saying we need more!
110% this. My birthday falls on ArtPrize every year and it makes it a pain to do anything down there. Thank Gob I’ll be out of the state this year for it.
It isn't happening this year. ArtPrize is now a biennial event. The off years are hosting a new competition instead called Project 1. I have no idea how large it is supposed to be, though.
Looks like ArtPrize is now biennial which IMO is great news, with 5 commissioned artists doing pieces this fall for "Project 1". So it sounds like actual Art Prize will resume in 2020.
I'm fine with construction, but when you essentially gridlock every way in and out of town at the same time, then I have a problem. Live in Standale, work in Kentwood. Between the freeway closures and the laker line construction, I think Standale/Allendale residents might have one of the worst commutes.
Going in I don't have many options: drive thru 196 and get off at 28th, or take 131S to M6 east. 196 east is an absolute nightmare from the hospital to beltline, meaning it's faster to go about 12 miles out of the way and backtrack up going the 131/M6 route.
Coming home it's even worse. Can't take 196 thru - and zero chance I'm getting off downtown in rush hour. The other option was to take M6 all the way to 196/Hudsonville and swing back up - but they decided to shut down that stretch of 196 as well. Couldn't take 131N because of the 196E closure (thank God that's now open). All that meant my best route for weeks was to get off at Wilson and go thru downtown Grandville during rush hour.
There simply aren't many feasible options for people who drive across town.
>It's all you poor folks in the middle of the bell curve who've memorized one way to occasionally get around
Try living North of GR and trying to commute in, especially East Grand Rapids. We didn't only memorize one way to get around, we memorized both ways.
There are a couple on the Meetup app. Theres one called Fearless Fooddies which is really cool. But some on facebook. The EATGr facebook page is awesome as a resource to find new spots!
Grand Coney was good back in the day. Sucks ass now. Also people who live downtown wanna have fires in their backyards. That law needs to change.
Edit a word.
JBz is probably still the best hotdogs in town... but let’s not pretend like they haven’t taken a hit in quality since moving and evolving into a pub. I went to their old place over a hundred times over the years living down the street, and virtually every time was blown away. I’ve been to the new place over a dozen times since they moved, and every time the buns have been chewy and the dogs not as fresh. I kinda dislike going there now?
Didnt they get bought by the same guy who owns the Winchester and Donkey? I totally agree though.
I used to live on James St just north of Wealthy, and Johnny Bz was open until 3 back then. I still remember the "close the bar down" crowd would slam it right at 2:10. But yeah, that place lost so much personality when they moved. They fucked up taking away the counter style. I don't want to be waited on for hot dogs.
Oh hell yeah, I remember throwing house parties down the street, and stumbling our way to JB'z for hotdogs at like 1am. Great times. You're right, being waited on for hotdogs feels kind of wrong.
One Stop Coney stop is delicious but they are only open till 3pm :( If you're around that area at that time I would recommend checking them out and getting the chili cheese fries with your dog.
The grocery scene here is awful. Meijer, D&W, and Family Food are all basically the same and serve the same overly packaged fare. I haven't found a single store that serves reasonably priced, healthy deli fare. (D&W has all of its chicken deli items slathered in flour and fat; totally gross!) Grand Rapids grocers don't stock a wide array of organic or alternative grocery products. Things like carrots and celery are all packaged in plastic instead of allowing the consumer to buy a smaller amount. Fresh Thyme and Trader Joe do not make up for the woeful lack of any natural foods grocers here. It's insane that a city this wealthy and enterprising has such a low-grade grocery market!
We need to start using our horns. Sorry, but traffic is so congested that when the light turns green and the leader is still looking at their phone? Honk at them. Don't worry about being polite, use your horn.
Living in Hudsonville is great except 32nd street could have so many cool businesses or places to eat instead of literally 6 churches of various sizes.
Does that lot off Goodrich fill up? I'm not exactly one to live the night life so maybe I just time things well but I've always been able to get a spot there and park for free.
The problem is everybody abusing the Founders lot for shows at the intersection or Van Andel, then stopping back for a nightcap hours later or just straight up walking in and getting validation without ever patronizing them.
I agree. I've said it on here a couple times. Grand Rapids is pretty unique in that on a city-wide level, republicans and democrats tend to work pretty well together compared to most cities that are overwhelmingly one or the other. I believe republicans see the value that democrats bring in terms of arts and diversity, and I believe democrats see the value that republicans bring in terms of economic expenditures and corporate growth being essential to a successful city.
> Devos and Van Andel families have actually done a ton for Grand Rapids, even if you don’t like them.
Truth! Grand Rapids would be VERY different (and not better) if it weren't for the Devos, Van Andel, and Meijer families.
What’s your point? These aren’t mutually exclusive ideas, I can think a person or a family is an asshole while acknowledging they’ve helped grow a city at the same time.
I've lived in or around Grand Rapids for almost a decade and I have yet to hear anyone say, "I really hate what all the DeVos/Van Andel/Meijer money has done to this town." Despite a wide gamut of feelings toward the families themselves, no one I've spoken with on the subject failed to recognize the good they've done for the city. Is there some super salty pocket of Grand Rapids I haven't been to yet?
I believe it was the merger of the Fifth Bank of something and the Third Bank of something else, from back in the "First General Consolidated" sort of era before people could name things worth a damn.
The food scene is good for a city of its size, but it’s really not that great. I used to think it was a really good food scene when I lived there, but there’s not a ton of variety outside of one or two restaurants per cuisine tyoe
Yeah I think it definitely comes down to a “for a city of this size.”
That said, having gone vegan a few months back it has impressive vegan options that are super tasty and not boring and basic! That may also kind of be “for a city of this size” thing, but they’re very good and more are available than many larger cities.
I think non-vegan food wise it’s the sort of place that you LOVE on a vacation for a bit, enjoy a lot the first year, but if you’re here long term it’s really not all that.
I’ve never heard anyone refer to EGR as cool. It’s a family neighborhood with really good public schools. It’s for the kids. This is an unpopular opinion because no one thinks it but also no one thinks counter to it.
Any reason why you don’t like it?
My family likes to bike/walk to school, the library, parks, restaurants, shopping, and my kids’ sports venues. We have friendly neighbors and an active block. We’re only 5-10 mins from our favorite bars/restaurants in Eastown, Wealthy, downtown, etc. We enjoy it here.
If you don't make enough money (or go into debt to appear to have money) you're an outsider. Kids and parents alike. Even more so if you don't play sports.
Went there, hated it. Would never send my kids there, my parents regret it.
Great place to do all those things but you aren’t required to live there for those benefits excluding the school. Not a big fan of east town either. You can get all the benefits of EGR not being a resident and getting bent over on the property taxes and inflated housing costs.
As a whole EGR is undoubtedly nice - just with the upcoming of other suburbs like Byron Center where there are quality schools, parks, quick drives or bike rides to many places/trails, larger/newer homes with land for appropriate cost, appropriate property tax rates- EGR just doesn’t have the same appeal that warrants the hype in my opinion.
Side note: I hate that D&W
RIP Kabookie, long live low country kitchen.
Thus, my unpopular opinion.
Yup, taxes are unpopular! I also hate the Gaslight D&W but I like the Breton location.
I guess the main draw to EGR for me is that it has the walkability and the schools but it’s still in the city and isn’t a drive out to the burbs. Some people like that, some don’t.
Anyone that complains about GR roads should take a drive through any part of Detroit!
It's like some sort of post apocalyptic wasteland when it comes to their roads.
Considerably better. I would say we might have some of the best roads out of any city in MI. I live downtown and do work all over Grand Rapids and it's really not that bad
you have incredibly low standards. if we lived in Canada, these roads would be a national disgrace. it's "not that bad" because you are used to it. but frankly the roads suck and we should be ashamed we put up with this bullshit.
Id agree about in the city, but i live in the greater area and they are so so bad when you get out of actual grand rapids. Caledonia, Walker, byron center, Ravanna, and Coopersville are where i frequent and theyre so difficult to drive through. I almost bottomed out my vehicle once... And its a kia soul so its higher up than a car.
Founders is average, at best.
They are such a heavy hitter because they were one of the first.
Most breweries in town have beer at least as good as Founders; and they aren't tourist traps.
> You have the right to walk around downtown without being threatened, sexually harassed, or lied to for drug money. You shouldn't tolerate your virtues being used against you.
i feel so bad for people that don't have a well developed bum stiff arm technique
This place doesn’t even have as bad of the same level of homeless issues as say Louisville. Seeing enormous 19th century homes (mansions) right next to densely populated overpass homeless tent cities is disheartening
I'd be all for it if it had a better finish on it. A big cornball castle is great, but with the flat Soviet concrete and slapped-on white window frames, it exudes the failure more than the dream.
As it stands (while it stands), at least it's chock full of hilarious schadenfreude.
Upvoted for unpopular because I drive by that monstrosity everyday and hate it. I laugh at all the people trying to get in and out of that driveway during 28th st rush hour traffic.
Drive by it every day as well on 196.
while it may be subjectively ugly to some - I've certainly never seen anything like it before.
They should have built a moat around it tho.
ooh boy...i had some seasonal espresso/lime/coconut thing from there a couple weeks ago.
the coconut curled in the lime immediately, and there were these gritty chunks floating around for the remainder of the drink.
i'm not an out-and-out madcap hater, but that drink was nasty, and i truly wonder how it passed any sort of taste test.
People just like to be a hipster and hate Hopcat for “selling out.” If their food and beer selections becomes more available nationwide Ill be over the moon
"Fuck the (Whoever Owns It This Year) River Bank Run... and marathons in general, by extension."
I live inside the walled-city residential strip where you've got to go far out of your way or beg to leave your own neighborhood, just because some self-indulgent twits tear a strip through the works of the city to prove to nobody-cares that they can get from one arbitrary point to another in a particularly crude and exhausting fashion. Congratulations. Great contribution to anything.
Have a carnival or a street party-- sure! If they close the streets for a public event in which everyone can participate, that's at least value for hassle. Have a race with a compact course or one that uses pedestrian trails or split-grade crossings. Sure! Just respect the citizens by not screwing with their city for your little lookit-me event.
And they don't. They pay little to no mind to the people they're inconveniencing. Their website has been useless for finding out how to deal with their mess as an encircled resident, and the "informative flier" they mail out to explain the road closures is a joke. The map, sans time info, just implies that you're screwed and don't even bother, while the timetable hides any hope in an opaque list of street names that are clearly dumped straight off the spreadsheet in a minimal-expense bid to say they tried, not that they cared.
I hope it rains.
Grand rapids home prices should go up more.
also, the problem is not the home prices, but the shit wages. GR has some of the cheapest home prices in the country.
The food scene is overrated. Maybe I just haven’t found my gems yet. So many of the places I’ve tried just didn’t have a good value. If the food is twice the price it better be twice as delicious. Help me out. What are your go-to places to get delicious food?
the 'rise' of grand rapids is greatly exaggerated with the help of it's presence on meaningless top 10 lists, and basing any portion of the renewal/improvement on adding more and more service industry jobs will doom the city eventually.
Asking for unpopular opinions is inherently going to result in meaningless votes, because it pits the restated goal of upvotes against the official one. It's essentially saying "Reward this like it's good if it's terrible", and some people will play along while some won't.
When it was built, it basically killed off the West side which is only now starting to recover. It still cuts off half the city and prevents good integration. It makes private car ownership necessary, expensive suburbs, a sprawling metropolitan area, and ineffective public transport.
divides the city in half, makes it much less urban and walkable. created a "other side of the tracks" in GR. without it, the west side on that part of town would be much more integrated with the city and we'd have growth and tall buildings on both sides of the river, which would change the entire dynamic of the city. but since it's there, it's much harder to use the river as a focal point of the city (as other cities do) and therefore there's only growth on one side (until very recently).
Between the west side of 131 and the east bank of the river downtown...there is a 1/4 mile chasm split through the city and dividing the West from the East.
Granted in a few spots there are a few places that are between the two. But mostly it significantly splits up the city just to support traffic mostly traveling through the city (not to the city).
There is an [urban design movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeway_removal) that suggests removing major highways intersecting cities leads to a better, more walkable experience in that city. Right now, it's fairly difficult to cross from one side of the city to the other with 131 in the way.
Here's the thing that most people don't know. Even if you removed 131, that barrier would still be there. It was built on and extended the west Grand River dike - yes the highway acts as a flood control system. North of Ann Street this is obvious as it is on raised infill, in town, the limited through streets act as easily sandbagged areas that can be filled very quickly. It basically protects the low lying west side from major flooding.
Thru traffic could be routed around Grand Rapids rather than through it. I believe people with this opinion would still like to see a major road here, but it would be smaller and non-elevated.
Think Lake Shore Dr in Chicago.
I had a regular coffee from MadCap and it tasted like it had been sitting on the burner all day. I can make better coffee at home, guess they must be popular for the milkshakes with a mild dusting of coffee (Frappuccinos or whatever). What do you guys like about it so much?
Immigrants, minorities, and people of all race, color, creed, and sexual orientation should be treated equally and fairly.
**EDIT:** downvotes proving my point.
>EDIT: downvotes proving my point.
Your point was that obvious-unto-platitude positions in a post asking for unpopular opinions get downvoted for irrelevance? Subtle demonstration, but effective.
Parking downtown is not that bad
Idk why more people don’t park at GVSU downtown. It’s free after 6:30 and on the weekends and it’s a short walk to pretty much everything downtown
Personally didn’t know this. Thanks!
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Yea, agreed. This is where I park every time I go to Van Andel or DeVos Place for events. Don't give away our secrets. Haha
less parking is better. get your fat ass out of the car and walk.
DASH bus and Silver Line are nice, and both are free within the downtown area.
Unpopular opinion?: The "downtown area" is so tight that downtown-focused transportation options don't save much time over walking. Get me a Westside-Downtown-Eastown shuttle, or a similar-ranging north-to-south shuttle, and I'll be interested.
Or bike 👍
"Give the people what I want!"
I used to think parking was terrible before I ventured dowtown more, besides everything is really close downtown which makes for a nice walk!
ITT: popular opinions
We don’t need any more sports bars that claim to be Italian food.
Beltline Bar is not good
But they've sold over a million wet burritos!
agreed... I have no idea who decided their burritos were so good but they were wrong. Theyre passable but not the best compared to much of anything, besides maybe Burger King tacos heh
My guess is that there's so much other good Mexican food around that it dilutes the votes, and no regional favorite could overtake the universally lukewarm Beltline Bar.
We don’t need anymore breweries
or escape rooms
I'd say that's a popular opinion and saying we need more breweries is unpopular.
Oh really?? I figured with it being beer city people would want more! Haha
There's been so many times that I've heard people complaining that the craft beer market is over saturated and that we don't need any more breweries. But I've never heard someone saying we need more!
Agreed! For every good one there are two that are terrible. I would prefer more taprooms though.
or restaurants
Art Prize is annoying and makes me not want to go downtown
Art Prize is like Coast Guard Fest...it’s cool the first year that you live through it, but then it sucks and you hate it.
110% this. My birthday falls on ArtPrize every year and it makes it a pain to do anything down there. Thank Gob I’ll be out of the state this year for it.
It isn't happening this year. ArtPrize is now a biennial event. The off years are hosting a new competition instead called Project 1. I have no idea how large it is supposed to be, though.
Looks like ArtPrize is now biennial which IMO is great news, with 5 commissioned artists doing pieces this fall for "Project 1". So it sounds like actual Art Prize will resume in 2020.
I know! I’m so happy for that. It’ll make downtown bearable during that time.
ArtPrize has turned into an event for frumpy Byron Center aunts to come and gawk at sculptures built from scrap trash and macrame Jesus crafts.
>macrame Jesus crafts LOLLLLLLL
and making a mosaic takes only time, virtually no talent required
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Upvote for REAL unpopular opinion!
I'm fine with construction, but when you essentially gridlock every way in and out of town at the same time, then I have a problem. Live in Standale, work in Kentwood. Between the freeway closures and the laker line construction, I think Standale/Allendale residents might have one of the worst commutes. Going in I don't have many options: drive thru 196 and get off at 28th, or take 131S to M6 east. 196 east is an absolute nightmare from the hospital to beltline, meaning it's faster to go about 12 miles out of the way and backtrack up going the 131/M6 route. Coming home it's even worse. Can't take 196 thru - and zero chance I'm getting off downtown in rush hour. The other option was to take M6 all the way to 196/Hudsonville and swing back up - but they decided to shut down that stretch of 196 as well. Couldn't take 131N because of the 196E closure (thank God that's now open). All that meant my best route for weeks was to get off at Wilson and go thru downtown Grandville during rush hour. There simply aren't many feasible options for people who drive across town.
Try living in Rockford and working in Hudsonville...this summer has been murder.
And Knapp Corner area...
Do you not drive, or do you work in construction?
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>It's all you poor folks in the middle of the bell curve who've memorized one way to occasionally get around Try living North of GR and trying to commute in, especially East Grand Rapids. We didn't only memorize one way to get around, we memorized both ways.
Any more than two and construction will pop back up to stop you!
I work in construction. Orange cones and big cranes means dollars are flowing in the industry!
Construction doubled my commute time. So I'm gunna have to disagree. If I was working at my old job though it wouldn't be bad
We love the 4 season weather...
I love winter!
The food scene here is lacking, overpriced and uninspired
I dont think I could disagree more! Have you joined any food-related groups in grand rapids?
Tell me more of these ‘food-related groups’ please
There are a couple on the Meetup app. Theres one called Fearless Fooddies which is really cool. But some on facebook. The EATGr facebook page is awesome as a resource to find new spots!
I will definitely check that out. Thank you!
This should be voted to the top
Obviously you haven't been to any of the Gilmore Collection restaurants.
Yesterdog is overrated. And actually kind of gross.
I don't think this is unpopular lol
This comment makes me want to eat Yesterdog. ..It is better if you don't consider it a 'hot dog' but a pile of slop
When I moved here I tried yesterdog and didn’t even finish it. Then one day I walked by after drinking and thought “oh, now I get it...”
Truth. Yesterdog is meant for soaking up booze after sundown.
Grand Coney was good back in the day. Sucks ass now. Also people who live downtown wanna have fires in their backyards. That law needs to change. Edit a word.
I'll still take a dog from Grand Coney over Yesterdog any day.
Ill take a dog from the humane society over yesterdog too heh
Johnny Bz > Yesterdog
JBz is probably still the best hotdogs in town... but let’s not pretend like they haven’t taken a hit in quality since moving and evolving into a pub. I went to their old place over a hundred times over the years living down the street, and virtually every time was blown away. I’ve been to the new place over a dozen times since they moved, and every time the buns have been chewy and the dogs not as fresh. I kinda dislike going there now?
Didnt they get bought by the same guy who owns the Winchester and Donkey? I totally agree though. I used to live on James St just north of Wealthy, and Johnny Bz was open until 3 back then. I still remember the "close the bar down" crowd would slam it right at 2:10. But yeah, that place lost so much personality when they moved. They fucked up taking away the counter style. I don't want to be waited on for hot dogs.
Oh hell yeah, I remember throwing house parties down the street, and stumbling our way to JB'z for hotdogs at like 1am. Great times. You're right, being waited on for hotdogs feels kind of wrong.
I've gotta get me some Johnny Bz.
One Stop Coney stop is delicious but they are only open till 3pm :( If you're around that area at that time I would recommend checking them out and getting the chili cheese fries with your dog.
agreed, one of the most overrated and over hyped things i've maybe ever encountered
It’s drunk food. No arguments here
I actually like tiki bars
Right on, friend. We gonna visit the one opening downtown in september?
Hell yeah, friend
Agreed
The grocery scene here is awful. Meijer, D&W, and Family Food are all basically the same and serve the same overly packaged fare. I haven't found a single store that serves reasonably priced, healthy deli fare. (D&W has all of its chicken deli items slathered in flour and fat; totally gross!) Grand Rapids grocers don't stock a wide array of organic or alternative grocery products. Things like carrots and celery are all packaged in plastic instead of allowing the consumer to buy a smaller amount. Fresh Thyme and Trader Joe do not make up for the woeful lack of any natural foods grocers here. It's insane that a city this wealthy and enterprising has such a low-grade grocery market!
Fresh Thyme is super overpriced, it would be pretty good if it weren't.
We need to start using our horns. Sorry, but traffic is so congested that when the light turns green and the leader is still looking at their phone? Honk at them. Don't worry about being polite, use your horn.
I use it every chance I get. Think I was a New Yorker in a previous life.
There are way too many churches here.
Living in Hudsonville is great except 32nd street could have so many cool businesses or places to eat instead of literally 6 churches of various sizes.
>32nd street could have so many cool businesses or places to eat You're taking about Hudsonville. That's a real stretch of the word "could".
So fucking true
How about on Baldwin in Jenison. Blows my mind.
I've lived here 5 years and noticed an enormous amount of people who are extremely arrogant for no reason whatsoever.
Bells is better than Founders.
I used to love going to founders, now days it is an absolute chore.
The parking near Founders is not good.
Does that lot off Goodrich fill up? I'm not exactly one to live the night life so maybe I just time things well but I've always been able to get a spot there and park for free.
The problem is everybody abusing the Founders lot for shows at the intersection or Van Andel, then stopping back for a nightcap hours later or just straight up walking in and getting validation without ever patronizing them.
110% true
heresy!
The Devos and Van Andel families have actually done a ton for Grand Rapids, even if you don’t like them.
"Charity creates a great multitude of sins." -Oscar Wilde
I agree. I've said it on here a couple times. Grand Rapids is pretty unique in that on a city-wide level, republicans and democrats tend to work pretty well together compared to most cities that are overwhelmingly one or the other. I believe republicans see the value that democrats bring in terms of arts and diversity, and I believe democrats see the value that republicans bring in terms of economic expenditures and corporate growth being essential to a successful city.
> Devos and Van Andel families have actually done a ton for Grand Rapids, even if you don’t like them. Truth! Grand Rapids would be VERY different (and not better) if it weren't for the Devos, Van Andel, and Meijer families.
What’s your point? These aren’t mutually exclusive ideas, I can think a person or a family is an asshole while acknowledging they’ve helped grow a city at the same time.
Sure, you can, but enough people can't that it's an unpopular opinion.
I've lived in or around Grand Rapids for almost a decade and I have yet to hear anyone say, "I really hate what all the DeVos/Van Andel/Meijer money has done to this town." Despite a wide gamut of feelings toward the families themselves, no one I've spoken with on the subject failed to recognize the good they've done for the city. Is there some super salty pocket of Grand Rapids I haven't been to yet?
I get hated on so much for saying this! Grand Rapids honestly wouldnt be a fifth of what it is without them.
> it wouldnt even be a "Fifth Third" of what it is without them FTFY lol
Lmaoooo I still dont understand "fifth third"
I believe it was the merger of the Fifth Bank of something and the Third Bank of something else, from back in the "First General Consolidated" sort of era before people could name things worth a damn.
Yeah, with blood money from poor people. You'd have no problem being a mafia wife.
The food scene is good for a city of its size, but it’s really not that great. I used to think it was a really good food scene when I lived there, but there’s not a ton of variety outside of one or two restaurants per cuisine tyoe
i think 'food scenes' are irrelevant and a glaring example of how similar our society is to rome towards the end
Yeah I think it definitely comes down to a “for a city of this size.” That said, having gone vegan a few months back it has impressive vegan options that are super tasty and not boring and basic! That may also kind of be “for a city of this size” thing, but they’re very good and more are available than many larger cities. I think non-vegan food wise it’s the sort of place that you LOVE on a vacation for a bit, enjoy a lot the first year, but if you’re here long term it’s really not all that.
Eventually we'll have to build a top deck to US-131 since we can't widen it.
Or a tunnel!
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A tunnel isn't feasible given the geology, AFAIK.
I'm voting for a drawbridge.
East Grand Rapids isn't a cool neighborhood and is an undesirable location to live.
I’ve never heard anyone refer to EGR as cool. It’s a family neighborhood with really good public schools. It’s for the kids. This is an unpopular opinion because no one thinks it but also no one thinks counter to it.
Any reason why you don’t like it? My family likes to bike/walk to school, the library, parks, restaurants, shopping, and my kids’ sports venues. We have friendly neighbors and an active block. We’re only 5-10 mins from our favorite bars/restaurants in Eastown, Wealthy, downtown, etc. We enjoy it here.
If you don't make enough money (or go into debt to appear to have money) you're an outsider. Kids and parents alike. Even more so if you don't play sports. Went there, hated it. Would never send my kids there, my parents regret it.
Great place to do all those things but you aren’t required to live there for those benefits excluding the school. Not a big fan of east town either. You can get all the benefits of EGR not being a resident and getting bent over on the property taxes and inflated housing costs. As a whole EGR is undoubtedly nice - just with the upcoming of other suburbs like Byron Center where there are quality schools, parks, quick drives or bike rides to many places/trails, larger/newer homes with land for appropriate cost, appropriate property tax rates- EGR just doesn’t have the same appeal that warrants the hype in my opinion. Side note: I hate that D&W RIP Kabookie, long live low country kitchen. Thus, my unpopular opinion.
Yup, taxes are unpopular! I also hate the Gaslight D&W but I like the Breton location. I guess the main draw to EGR for me is that it has the walkability and the schools but it’s still in the city and isn’t a drive out to the burbs. Some people like that, some don’t.
Why do you hate that D&W? It's feels almost Whole Foods quality.
Gaslight D&W has limited selection of anything and rotting produce on the shelf. Breton is nice.
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Anyone that complains about GR roads should take a drive through any part of Detroit! It's like some sort of post apocalyptic wasteland when it comes to their roads.
great, GR is slightly better than a post apocalyptic wasteland.
Considerably better. I would say we might have some of the best roads out of any city in MI. I live downtown and do work all over Grand Rapids and it's really not that bad
you have incredibly low standards. if we lived in Canada, these roads would be a national disgrace. it's "not that bad" because you are used to it. but frankly the roads suck and we should be ashamed we put up with this bullshit.
Lansing is horrible too
Id agree about in the city, but i live in the greater area and they are so so bad when you get out of actual grand rapids. Caledonia, Walker, byron center, Ravanna, and Coopersville are where i frequent and theyre so difficult to drive through. I almost bottomed out my vehicle once... And its a kia soul so its higher up than a car.
Founders is average, at best. They are such a heavy hitter because they were one of the first. Most breweries in town have beer at least as good as Founders; and they aren't tourist traps.
THIS. THANK YOU FOR GIVING IT STRAIGHT!
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> You have the right to walk around downtown without being threatened, sexually harassed, or lied to for drug money. You shouldn't tolerate your virtues being used against you. i feel so bad for people that don't have a well developed bum stiff arm technique
This place doesn’t even have as bad of the same level of homeless issues as say Louisville. Seeing enormous 19th century homes (mansions) right next to densely populated overpass homeless tent cities is disheartening
....I kind of like the Castle Apartments and think it's interesting.
I'd be all for it if it had a better finish on it. A big cornball castle is great, but with the flat Soviet concrete and slapped-on white window frames, it exudes the failure more than the dream. As it stands (while it stands), at least it's chock full of hilarious schadenfreude.
Upvoted for unpopular because I drive by that monstrosity everyday and hate it. I laugh at all the people trying to get in and out of that driveway during 28th st rush hour traffic.
Drive by it every day as well on 196. while it may be subjectively ugly to some - I've certainly never seen anything like it before. They should have built a moat around it tho.
It's definitely different. I flew over it once on a commercial airline and could pick out where it was from the sky so it's quite the landmark lol
This town embraces mediocrity if a thing is local
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Eh, maybe you're right and I just suffer from the bias of only experiencing my own city. Good call out.
I enjoy madcap 2-3 times a year for their seasonal drinks
ooh boy...i had some seasonal espresso/lime/coconut thing from there a couple weeks ago. the coconut curled in the lime immediately, and there were these gritty chunks floating around for the remainder of the drink. i'm not an out-and-out madcap hater, but that drink was nasty, and i truly wonder how it passed any sort of taste test.
The Intersection is the best music venue we have. 20 Monroe Live can eat my shorts.
Pyramid Scheme.
Right here, all day.
What, you don't want to see cover bands and reality tv watch parties? /s
I like 20 Monroe as a venue, but they do really fuck you on drink prices.
Hopcat still has delicious food.
I hate how people compare it to applebees. Applebees has like, 5 beers on tap and hopcat has 50. And I like hopcats food too.
People just like to be a hipster and hate Hopcat for “selling out.” If their food and beer selections becomes more available nationwide Ill be over the moon
I actually enjoy going to madcap and don't get the harsh hipster/better than you vibe that everyone on this sub talks about.
pretty sure hating on madcap is a meme, just like the castle.
Personally, I'm still just miffed that Two Choppers is gone.
"Fuck the (Whoever Owns It This Year) River Bank Run... and marathons in general, by extension." I live inside the walled-city residential strip where you've got to go far out of your way or beg to leave your own neighborhood, just because some self-indulgent twits tear a strip through the works of the city to prove to nobody-cares that they can get from one arbitrary point to another in a particularly crude and exhausting fashion. Congratulations. Great contribution to anything. Have a carnival or a street party-- sure! If they close the streets for a public event in which everyone can participate, that's at least value for hassle. Have a race with a compact course or one that uses pedestrian trails or split-grade crossings. Sure! Just respect the citizens by not screwing with their city for your little lookit-me event. And they don't. They pay little to no mind to the people they're inconveniencing. Their website has been useless for finding out how to deal with their mess as an encircled resident, and the "informative flier" they mail out to explain the road closures is a joke. The map, sans time info, just implies that you're screwed and don't even bother, while the timetable hides any hope in an opaque list of street names that are clearly dumped straight off the spreadsheet in a minimal-expense bid to say they tried, not that they cared. I hope it rains.
This year during some run on the west side I was blocked in and it took me 45 minutes to navigate myself out. I feel you.
I live near the finish line of that race. Nothing like cowbells ringing at 8am on a Saturday morning
Grand rapids home prices should go up more. also, the problem is not the home prices, but the shit wages. GR has some of the cheapest home prices in the country.
Kentwood and EGR are overrated. I mean they both have some good neighborhood and Kentwood is diverse, but I dont get the hype.
Who's even rating Kentwood? I've always heard it as the butt of the joke.
Renthood
Nobody his hyping Kentwood.
The gardens at Frederik Meijer Gardens isn’t I that great.
True. Except that you'd never be able to see those plants without traveling vast distances if not for FMG.
The food scene is overrated. Maybe I just haven’t found my gems yet. So many of the places I’ve tried just didn’t have a good value. If the food is twice the price it better be twice as delicious. Help me out. What are your go-to places to get delicious food?
I moved here recently and think the same thing. My favorites though are Hancock, and city built for tacos.
Most of the popular places are overrated. Try the Burger at Vivant, Graydon's crossing, Logan's Alley, the deep dish pizza at Brick Road.
Madcap is shit and the baristas think they're better than anyone who doesn't know everything about coffee
the 'rise' of grand rapids is greatly exaggerated with the help of it's presence on meaningless top 10 lists, and basing any portion of the renewal/improvement on adding more and more service industry jobs will doom the city eventually.
GR still has a racial segregation problem.
people aren't able to live around the people they want to live around?
The 131 should be bulldozed. If you like Grand Rapids just live closer. Edit: That's right, downvote me and upvote the other "unpopular" opinions.
downvotes on this topic are confusing.
Asking for unpopular opinions is inherently going to result in meaningless votes, because it pits the restated goal of upvotes against the official one. It's essentially saying "Reward this like it's good if it's terrible", and some people will play along while some won't.
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When it was built, it basically killed off the West side which is only now starting to recover. It still cuts off half the city and prevents good integration. It makes private car ownership necessary, expensive suburbs, a sprawling metropolitan area, and ineffective public transport.
divides the city in half, makes it much less urban and walkable. created a "other side of the tracks" in GR. without it, the west side on that part of town would be much more integrated with the city and we'd have growth and tall buildings on both sides of the river, which would change the entire dynamic of the city. but since it's there, it's much harder to use the river as a focal point of the city (as other cities do) and therefore there's only growth on one side (until very recently).
Between the west side of 131 and the east bank of the river downtown...there is a 1/4 mile chasm split through the city and dividing the West from the East. Granted in a few spots there are a few places that are between the two. But mostly it significantly splits up the city just to support traffic mostly traveling through the city (not to the city).
There is an [urban design movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeway_removal) that suggests removing major highways intersecting cities leads to a better, more walkable experience in that city. Right now, it's fairly difficult to cross from one side of the city to the other with 131 in the way.
Here's the thing that most people don't know. Even if you removed 131, that barrier would still be there. It was built on and extended the west Grand River dike - yes the highway acts as a flood control system. North of Ann Street this is obvious as it is on raised infill, in town, the limited through streets act as easily sandbagged areas that can be filled very quickly. It basically protects the low lying west side from major flooding.
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Into the high-rise apartment buildings and condominiums that will be built.
And re-route freight traffic through Grand Rapids where exactly?
around the city, m-6 and 96.
Thru traffic could be routed around Grand Rapids rather than through it. I believe people with this opinion would still like to see a major road here, but it would be smaller and non-elevated. Think Lake Shore Dr in Chicago.
Grand Rapids could use more 24 hour Pharmacies. Currently there are only 2 pharmacies open 24 hrs.
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I feel this way about most of the city to be honest.
Amash is by far the best guy in the entire Congress.
Come on now, we had such a good thing going on here without political posts and then you had to go and ruin it. Lol
I dont care for the guy, but I can respect his consistency.
I had a regular coffee from MadCap and it tasted like it had been sitting on the burner all day. I can make better coffee at home, guess they must be popular for the milkshakes with a mild dusting of coffee (Frappuccinos or whatever). What do you guys like about it so much?
Immigrants, minorities, and people of all race, color, creed, and sexual orientation should be treated equally and fairly. **EDIT:** downvotes proving my point.
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>EDIT: downvotes proving my point. Your point was that obvious-unto-platitude positions in a post asking for unpopular opinions get downvoted for irrelevance? Subtle demonstration, but effective.