My friend, the wonderful Mary Lou Smith, read my “Signs You are a Grand Rapids Native” posts (Part 1 and Part 2) and came up with an amazing list of her own! Here’s a walking tour of downtown Grand Rapids stores.
Downtown Grand Rapids – Stores to Remember
By Mary Lou Smith

Moderate to Low-priced women’s apparel on Monroe
- Beverly’s
- Sarret’s
- Winkelman’s
- Darling Shop – where Rosa Parks Circle is now
- Baker Shoes
- Sears
Higher-priced goods – on Fulton [One Trick Pony block] and Jefferson
- Alice Jane Dows
- Strauss Shop
- Helen Henry
- Joseph P. Doody – later at Breton Village, morphed into Leigh’s
- E.A. Rood – fine china and silver
- Leocadia Jones – hats [Civic’s costume shop has some]
- The Moderne Shop – progressive designer wear
- Jacobson’s – retail royalty [1st GR store was in Pantlind Hotel; 3rd in EGR
Dependable women’s wear
- Steketee’s [where my clothes and Stride-Rite shoes came from]
- Wurzburg’s
- Herpolsheimer’s
- Bon Marche
- Blanche LeBaron
Men’s Wear
- MBM – [Mackenzie Bostock Monroe]
- May’s – as in Meyer May [Frank Lloyd Wright house owner]
- George Bulliss
- Houseman’s – historic GR family business
Non-fashion retail
- Daane and Witter – gourmet food w/home delivery! [was in current Children’s Museum building]
- Walgreen’s – BIG Monroe Ave. store, w/lunch counter
- Peck’s Drug Store – Division at Monroe
30 N. Division – Majestic block in pre-Civic Theatre days
- Allen’s Bookstore – site of GRCT’s Scene Shop
- Grinnell Music – 5 or more stories [GRCT’s dance studio/Porter/3rd floor rehearsal space and up]
- Economy Shoe Repair – on site of GRCT Box Office
You know where Kewpies was.
Oooohhhh…. you got me there!
What about The Bagpiper and Treats Drug Store On Michigan?