Shop Outside the Box – When you shop outside the box and support neighborhood businesses, you support local merchants who care about their community. Neighborhood business owners are the unique breed of people who invest in their neighborhoods every day by providing goods and service to the folks who surround them and beyond. Many, especially the ones that are members of their local business associations and thus members of the Neighborhood Business Alliance (NBA) are actively working together to make their neighborhood business districts and all 20 neighborhood business districts in the urban core of the city of Grand Rapids better places. Support neighborhood businesses – Shop Outside the Box!
NBA: The Voice of Neighborhood Business
Our community’s future – its families, neighborhoods, schools and public institutions – depends on a healthy business climate. The Neighborhood Business Alliance (NBA) includes representatives of each of Grand Rapids’ 20 local business associations. Working together, NBA members coordinate services, share best practices, advocate on issues affecting neighborhood business, and promote the economic vitality of our entire community.
Coffee Shops and Other Stops
Events
A Free Event:
The 18th Annual Neighborhood Business Awards, Thursday, November 8th, 5:00 – 8:00 PM, Wealthy Theatre, in the heart of the newly renovated Wealthy Street Business District.
Coffee Shops Are Not
Just About Coffee
They define our neighborhoods, giving us an away-from-home comfort zone. A place to sip and study, think, write, read, draw, chat or check e-mail. Or maybe just sip.
The Urban Beanery, located just north of Madison at Hall in Grand Rapids new Southtown area, is a magnet for meetings and mid-morning coffee runs.
Stop in for a latte and/or a panini while your car is getting preferential treatment around the corner at the Wax Doctor (341 Hall), or as a post-haircut hangout following your own spa treatment at Reflections II (1908 Madison). Reflections II is located in the C & J Plaza building, which took the NBA Neighborhood Business Award last year for Best Reuse of a Building. On the southwest corner of Madison and Hall, you’ll find Madison Town Homes, a new mixed use development which tied for the NBA’s 2005 Best New Construction award.
No doubt the Urban Beanery will be on this year’s nomination list for Best New Business. Stop in and say hi to Shannon, the owner, and tell him thanks for making Southtown a new urban hot spot! And yes, it is wi-fi accessible!