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Eastown is a 70 square block area of Grand Rapids, Michigan. It has been described by some as the Greenwich Village of Grand Rapids [1]. It is considered by many in the Grand Rapids area as somewhat of a liberal oasis in a rather conservative area.
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Today a walkable mixed-use neighborhood, Eastown began as a streetcar commuter suburb of downtown Grand Rapids. Eastown has an active community association, business association and neighborhood newsletter called the Access.
Places of interest
There are several places of business that are part of Eastown. These include Wolfgang's, Yesterdog, The New Yorker Mens Wear, Mulligan's Pub, Billy's, Smitty's Liquor store, Eastown Deli, Brandywine, Early Bird, Pita House, Spirit Dreams, Bombay Cuisine, The Society of Healing Arts Institute (SOHAI), Kitten Flower Boutique, Redux Used Books, Argos Books, GoJo Ethiopian Cuisine, Hookah Lounge, McKendree Jewelers,Jamaican Daves, Chez Olga, and Indochine Asian restaurant.
Wilcox Park, a large park in Eastown, is commonly used for various outdoor activities which include kite-flying, kickball, tennis. Coldbrook Creek divides the park from Aquinas College.
Location
The neighborhood is bounded on the north by Fulton Street, on the east by the city border with East Grand Rapids, on the south by Franklin Street, and on the west by Fuller Avenue. The neighborhood is centered on the intersection of Wealthy Street and Lake Drive.
2008 explosion
On February 26, 2008, a 140-year-old building exploded due to a gas leak, injuring seven people. Residents throughout the neighborhood felt shock waves. The building collapsed into rubble, sending 20-foot flames into the air and destroying all the local business housed within.