Mold Remediation in Grand Blanc, MI

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - An oily sheen visible on the Grand River after a massive line of thunderstorms ripped through Michigan on Sunday, March 30 stems from damaged electrical transformers in Grand Rapids, state environmental officials say.

The storms brought wind gusts of up to 81 mph at the Grand Rapids airport before sweeping across the state, spawning at least four tornadoes.

The heavy winds knocked over several Consumers Energy pole-top transformers along Market Avenue in Grand Rapids, according to Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) spokesperson Scott Dean.

They released mineral oil into two storm water drains, with the spill ultimately reaching the Grand River, he said in an email.

“EGLE does not anticipate any environmental impact or harm to aquatic life from this spill. The oil will not sink to the bottom and will break down with exposure to sunlight. No drinking water intakes are downstream from the spill on the river,” Dean said.

Consumers reported the oil does not contain PCBs, a group of toxic industrial chemicals once used in transformers that were banned in the 1970s.

An initial report it submitted to a pollution hotline stated 200 gallons of oil were released from six transformers.

Consumers has begun cleanup operations, engaging an environmental contractor to place booms and pads to absorb the oil and limit its spread, Dean said.

A video of the sheen posted Sunday and taken on the Kent Trails Grand River Bridge connected to Millennium Park circulated on social media. EGLE staff responded to reports of the sheen, according to Dean.

“Upon notification early on March 31, Consumers Energy mobilized emergency response crews and engaged an environmental contractor to deploy a vacuum truck, containment and absorbent pads,” said Consumers spokesperson Trisha Bloembergen in a statement.

The state will continue to oversee Consumers’ cleanup operation to ensure it meets all state standards, Dean said.

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MLive Environmental Reporter Garret Ellison contributed reporting.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI —A flurry of restaurant closures in Grand Rapids has highlighted the struggles facing the hospitality sector, from increased costs to shifting consumer habits, and one industry veteran warns there’s more pain to come.

“For a multitude of reasons, many of your favorite places will cease to exist soon, and it has little to do with who is in the White House in 2025,” Chris Andrus, co-owner of The Mitten Brewing Company, said on Facebook. “Only the strongest will survive.”

Since January, at least eight Grand Rapids area restaurants and breweries have permanently closed, including Rockwell Republic, Creston Brewery, Beacon Corner Bar and GRNoir Wine & Jazz.

In an industry known for tight margins, restaurant closings aren’t rare. But the sheer number of spots that have closed in the first two months of the year has drawn lots of attention.

“We’ve had an abnormal amount of closures in a very short amount of time,” said Richard App, a retail retention and attraction specialist for the Grand Rapids Chamber, the city of Grand Rapids and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.

While the closures have been disappointing, App pointed out the news isn’t all bleak. At least two new restaurants, Garden District and Silva, opened in February.

As for the recent spate of closures, there’s not one overarching reason why they’re occurring, officials say.

Rather, a host of factors are contributing, including higher food, labor and operational costs, and a pandemic-era shift from in-person dining to takeout that hasn’t subsided, officials say. Restaurant owners are urging residents to support their favorite spots and “stop the bleeding.”

“Restaurants have not really fully rebounded from COVID,” App said. “That’s No. 1. No. 2 is our dining habits have changed. People aren’t going out as much.”

The string of closures is disappointing to customers and the neighborhoods that housed the establishments.

Creston Brewery, for example, was not only an employer in the Creston Neighborhood but also a source of community identity that served as a gathering space for local events, said Kristina Colby, interim executive director of the Creston Neighborhood Association.

“The neighborhood and neighborhood association are very disappointed to hear about the closure of Creston Brewery,” she said. “It’s been an anchor business in Creston for years. It’s a gathering space. They have trivia nights. We have a walking club, a running club. We host community events there.”

Other notable closures include Fatboy, a classic neighborhood diner on Plainfield Avenue NE in the Creston Neighborhood, as well as 3 Gatos Brewery in Wyoming and The Pubb Food and Spirits in Grand Rapids.

More pain could be coming.

Late last month, River North Public House posted an urgent message on Facebook: “We need your support to keep our doors open.”

Rachel Lee, who in 2019 opened the restaurant on Plainfield Avenue NE, just north of Knapp Street, said her business had been hurt by several major road construction projects that slowed customer traffic. In addition, other restaurant developments that she hoped would draw more customers to the northeast side neighborhood didn’t materialize.

“I’m fighting for our lives over here at River North,” she said.

Lee said she posted the Facebook message to be “transparent” with customers about the precarious position her business is in. She also wanted residents to know that locally-owned, independent restaurants provide jobs, sustain families, offer a unique dining experience, and that such establishments won’t survive without community support.

“This is definitely a critical moment for independent restaurants in Grand Rapids,” she said. “We need to stop the bleeding.”

Since posting the plea for support, Lee said sales have climbed.

“This weekend we saw a 60% increase in sales, and yesterday we had a private event — once again another 60% increase,” she said.

Moving forward, Lee said she’s working to strengthen her restaurant’s marketing and social media outreach, and she’s partnering with nonprofits for events.

One challenge that had been looming over the restaurant industry is a new law that would have phased out the tipped minimum wage for servers and provide mandatory sick leave.

The restaurant industry and many servers said the law would have hurt their businesses, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a compromise bill last month that scaled back the changes. The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association supported the compromise.

Other challenges remain, though.

Andrus, the co-owner of The Mitten Brewing Company, said high costs, uncertainty about the economy and shifts in consumer habits are hitting all restaurants. But newer, less-established restaurants with significant debt are the least likely to weather a few bad months of business.

“People are absolutely on edge in the restaurant industry —I think nationwide,” he said. “There just seems to be no end to the obstacles coming our way. None of our sales have returned to where they were before COVID, but all the costs have ballooned out of control.”

Andrus said The Mitten Brewing Company, founded in 2012, is “holding our own,” and is “steadily clawing our way back to where we were pre-COVID.”

“We’re fortunate to be in a mature position. Most of our debt is retired,” he said. “But those were hard fought gains, and we’re happy that we made the moves that we did make to be in a position to weather crises like this.”

Looking forward, App, the city’s retail retention and attraction specialist, is urging struggling restaurants to speak up.

“Don’t be afraid to tell people that you need their support,” he said. “And for us as the community, to keep this growing and thriving city moving in the right direction, we need to continue to support businesses.”

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI – After closing in May of last year, Reserve Wine & Food is set to return this spring as a new coastal Italian restaurant named Allora.

Allora was unveiled last summer as the new brand for the 14-year-old restaurant at 201 Monroe Ave. NW, with an expected opening date by the end of 2024. The restaurant, however, is now pushing for an April 23 opening, general manager Parker Bulliment confirmed.

The restaurant promises a “dynamic menu” with “fresh, seasonal ingredients.” More information about the menu and signature items will be offered closer to the opening date.

The word “allora” has no direct English translation but could be used in a similar way to “well,” or “so,” or “and then,” according to a news release.

“The word ‘allora’ creates space in a conversation, lends suspense and flow to a story, and sings the rolling song of the world’s most beautifully spoken language,” the release stated.

The restaurant in August hosted a hiring event to fill positions for servers, bartenders, hosts, cooks and more in preparation for the grand opening.

Prior to its closure, Reserve Wine & Food was known for its extensive bar selection, with over 800 wines in stock and 102 wines on tap via a nitrogen pressurized preservation system. The menu featured dishes like oysters, caviar service, custom charcuterie plates, steak, whole fish and a five-course chef’s tasting menu with paired wines.

Reconstruction of the space coincides with construction of a public plaza on Lyon Street that will create greenspace and seating along the Grand River between DeVos Place and Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.

An earlier release stated the new restaurant will “create an exciting new use of the alley and space” next to it.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The kitchen became a laboratory as Sherika Dennard experimented with a cabinet of seasonings.

After laboring for the day, she collected her closest family and friends to try fried chicken recipes she’d concocted.

“Granny, this it,” Dennard’s 9-year-old granddaughter said.

Others agreed, but those three words have stuck with her over the past decade. Dennard’s dream of owning a restaurant had come alive.

Rika’s Chicken and More, 736 Butterworth St. SW in Grand Rapids, is a chicken joint turning out fresh-to-order wings, tenders and fish. The eatery burst onto the scene about 18 months ago boasting “the best chicken in town.”

Dennard’s fondness for cooking came at an early age. She began perfecting her mother’s recipes at age seven, providing home cooked meals for her siblings.

“I took care of my siblings when my mom worked, and eventually I’m like, ‘I’m not gonna be here and just be hungry,‘” Dennard said. “My mom taught me how to cook, but everything she taught me, I perfected it. She started telling me ‘I feel like everything I make, you make it better.‘”

Dennard never stopped striving for perfection in her culinary endeavors. She first opened a short-lived, chicken spot around 2012, and then continued serving food at pop-up shops.

“The best chicken in town” isn’t only something hanging from a banner on the facade, it is a proud refrain from regulars and Dennard’s three sons who work alongside her at the restaurant.

All food offered at Rika’s Chicken is battered fresh every day and always made-to-order.

While Dennard won’t reveal what’s in the pre-seasoned flour. She says the secret to her chicken is “consistency.“ The mixture boldly features nine undisclosed seasonings that are meticulously measured.

Whole wings, thighs, legs and tenders cost $2 each. Wing dings cost $1. An order of gizzards cost $15.

The restaurant offers more than chicken. It’s 3-piece perch for $3, half-pound catfish nuggets for $6 or 10-piece jumbo shrimp for $11 are popular alternative options.

Fried sides include French fries, onion rings, okra and cauliflower. Soul food classics like mac n' cheese, spicy cabbage and spaghetti are available most Sundays on a first come, first served basis.

The restaurant serves $8 meal deals every day. On Wednesdays, customers enjoy $1 wings.

Rika’s Chicken is open from noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 to 8 p.m. on Sunday. It’s closed Monday.

To place an order, visit Rika’s Chicken online or call (616) 893-7770.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Grand Rapids” daily newsletter.

Do you have a favorite local restaurant that should be featured in Michigan’s Best Local Eats? Send the details, including business name, address and best menu item, to Isaac Ritchey at iritchey@mlive.com.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI —It’s been a busy year for restaurant closures so far.

Three months into 2025, at least eight Grand Rapids area restaurants and breweries have permanently closed, including Rockwell Republic, Creston Brewery, Beacon Corner Bar and GRNoir Wine & Jazz.

Restaurant owners say a host of factors are at play, including higher food, labor and operational costs, and a pandemic-era shift from in-person dining to takeout that hasn’t subsided.

RELATED: ‘We need to stop the bleeding:’ Grand Rapids hit by wave of restaurant closures

Here’s a list of the spots that closed their doors:

3 Gatos Brewery

Linus De Paoli opened 3 Gatos Brewery at 1760 44th St. SW in the summer of 2021 to offer a fusion menu inspired by Brazil, Germany, and the U.S. The local spot described itself as a “Boteco,” a typical neighborhood bar in Brazil for the community to get together with loved ones, have some drinks, eat good food and enjoy each other’s company.

The brewery announced in January it was closing its doors Feb. 8.

De Paoli said he made the decision to close because the brewery didn’t attract enough customers, and because a “slowdown” in the craft beer and hospitality sector “hit us really hard.”

GRNoir Wine & Jazz

After four years in business, GRNoir Wine & Jazz closed its doors for good at the end of the month, with owners Shatawn and Nadia Brigham citing post-pandemic struggles, inflation, and shifting consumer behaviors.

“Though this chapter is closing, we do so with immense pride in what we have built and the impact we have made,” the couple said in a letter to the community.

Beacon Corner Bar

Beacon Corner Bar, a restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids specializing in seafood boils and coastal cuisine, has closed its doors for good, citing “rising food costs and other challenges.”

“With heavy hearts, we have made the difficult decision to close Beacon Corner Bar,” the restaurant, located on Fulton Street just east of Van Andel Arena, posted on its Facebook page. “Rising food costs and other challenges have made it impossible for us to continue, but we are so grateful for the incredible three years we had with all of you.”

Creston Brewery

Saugatuck Brewing Company abruptly closed its Grand Rapids tap room, Creston Brewery, earlier this month.

The company, which also permanently shuttered its Kalamazoo tap room, said in a statement that the closures come amid a “challenging time” for the craft beer industry, and that it’s shifting its focus toward distribution.

Rockwell Republic

After 17 years, Rockwell Republic in downtown Grand Rapids permanently closed in late February.

Owner Jeff Lobdell said he made the decision because the restaurant never recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and has operated at a loss ever since.

“It hurts my heart to have closed it, because I don’t want to let the community down,” said Lobdell, the president of Restaurant Partners Management, who owns a host of other restaurants throughout the region. “But I also couldn’t afford to just keep shoveling lots of funds and resources and money to a place that isn’t sustainable.”

Fatboy

Fat Boy, a classic American diner that opened in 1952 in Grand Rapids’ Creston Neighborhood, closed in February.

The restaurant has struggled for years, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with owner Matt Urbane previously launching a GoFundMe online fundraiser to keep the diner open. He put the restaurant up for sale, 2450 Plainfield Ave. NE, in January 2024, and it closed for good this year.

The Pubb Food & Spirits

The Pubb Food & Spirits, 1568 Broadway Ave. NW, closed in late February. In a social media post, the owner announced the bar and restaurant was reopening March 1 as an event space.

K-Pocha

K-Pocha, which opened in June 2023 inside the inside the Bayberry Market in Byron Center, announced last month that it’s closing.

However, the space wont' be vacant long. Restauranteur and chef Phong Nguyen said he’s rebranding and opening a casual Vietnamese restaurant, Pho House, int its place.