Is the Grand Rapids Hype Real? Steve & Margaux Say Yes.
Aug 25, 2026
From riverfront development and Canal Park to Lake Michigan sunsets and CHIHULY at Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids is having a moment
Read Time: 90 seconds
Grand Rapids has changed a lot in the last five years.
And in this episode of Coffee with Steve & Margaux, Steve and Margaux are asking the real question:
Is the Grand Rapids hype real?
Their answer? Yes. And it is getting harder to ignore.
This episode is a casual, unscripted conversation about the people, projects, places, and possibilities shaping Grand Rapids right now. No guest. No formal interview. Steve and Margaux talk through what they love, what they think is overrated, what visitors should experience, and what the city still needs.
Here are a few highlights:
Best thing happening in Grand Rapids:
The new Acrisure Amphitheater and the energy building along the riverfront. More concerts, more restaurants, more hotel activity, more foot traffic, and more reasons for people to come downtown.
The project to watch:
Canal Park. Margaux calls it the future “Central Park of River North,” and it is easy to see why. Green space, wider sidewalks, accessible river features, an accessible playground, and a park designed for the whole community.
Most debated topic:
Parking. Steve and Margaux are not fully buying the complaint. Their take? Sometimes it is not a parking problem. Sometimes people do not want to walk. Grand Rapids is evolving, and how people move around the city is evolving with it.
One must-see Grand Rapids experience:
Steve says a Lake Michigan sunset. Margaux says CHIHULY at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Honestly, both answers are correct.
What Grand Rapids still needs:
Steve is manifesting a True Food Kitchen. Margaux is still campaigning for horses, mounted police, and a city that keeps leaning into beauty, community, and creativity.
That is what makes this episode fun.
It is not a formal city report. It is two people who love Grand Rapids talking honestly about where the city is headed and why West Michigan keeps getting more interesting.
The development is happening.
The riverfront is changing.
The arts and food scenes are growing.
The parks are getting better.
And the people keep making this place feel like home.
So yes, the Grand Rapids hype is real.
And if you are thinking about visiting, moving, investing, or putting down roots in West Michigan, this episode is a great place to start.
🎥 Watch the full Coffee with Steve & Margaux episode and tell us: what is the best thing happening in Grand Rapids right now?
Keywords:
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