What’s Up in Uptown - with The Meanwhile

We sat down with Tammy Vandenburg, co-owner of The Meanwhile Bar, which she and her brother opened 15 years ago and she gave us a glimpse of what it’s like to live and work in the Uptown area. Tammy shares her favorite restaurants, go-to shops, and recommended stops for folks new to the neighborhood with it all concluding with a drink at the Meanwhile. As a space and pub created to make everybody feel comfortable, offer accessible prices, and highlight a strong focus on local products, it’s a must-visit. And if you can make it out in the summertime, Tammy said spending time on the little patio out back is just wonderful!

You have a free afternoon, where are you going for happy hour or lunch?

“A free afternoon in Uptown, I would say I’m gonna hit up Little Africa on Fulton Street, it’s my favorite food in the city. Then I’d probably walk around, if the Farmers Market is still open I would definitely stop there and pick up some good veggies and baked goods, and then I would just walk. Uptown has a lot of really great parks, I live right by Wilcox Park and I just love to walk. There are many days that we just don’t get in a car at all in Uptown, we’ll hop on the bus, cycle, walk and explore. And if I wanna spend a little money, I’ll probably go over to Books and Mortar and pick up a couple of books and candles. All of Cherry Street really has some great shops but I think Books and Mortar is my favorite one over there.”

Little Africa Cuisine is a local Ethiopian restaurant located at 956 E Fulton Street that serves delicious vegetarian meals and offers wonderful service to its customers!

The Fulton Street Farmers Market is a weekend favorite for many people with vendors selling a variety of goods including fruits, vegetables, handmade gifts, and art from local artists.

A visit to Cherry Street wouldn’t be complete without stopping into Books and Mortar to browse for your next enthralling read. Selling not only books for grown-ups, but there is also a wonderful children's section, as well as plenty of small gift options that pair nicely with a good book.

You are looking for a really nice wine, where are you going?

“If I would like a really nice glass of wine there are some excellent spots for that, Grove always, the happy hour is wonderful. I’m a sparkling kind of girl so I'll get some nice bubbles over there. There's also a new spot, Pursuit of Happiness, over on Robinson which is just a couple blocks from my house and they also have just really, really, lovely wines.”

The Grove, located at 919 Cherry Street, offers clients consciously sourced ingredients with many items coming from West Michigan farms, thoughtfully prepared cuisine with an artful focus, and impeccable service. They even have valet parking available to make your evening go that much smoother.

The Pursuit of Happiness Co., a bubbly bar located at 1426 Robinson Road, has just what you need to enjoy a night out with friends. Sip some delicious bubbles, snack on some appetizers, and catch up with your besties!

You have a new neighbor, where are you getting a gift for them?

“There are some really excellent little gift shops, Rebel is one of my favorites on Wealthy Street, they’ve got all kinds of really interesting little gifty kinds of things. And then Global Infusion would be my other go-to. I do a lot of Christmas shopping there, all fair trade, international gifts from all over. And they, I believe, opened right around the same time we did and they are female-owned, and so we have some nice synergy there.”

Rebel Reclaimed is one of those shops you can spend hours in just browsing, located at 1555 Wealthy Street, you are sure to find gifts perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, housewarmings, and really any occasion! Can’t make it in? You can also place custom orders or buy a gift card online!

Located at 143 Diamond Ave, Global Infusion is a local marketplace with a global mission focused on sourcing products from companies rooted in social and environmental sustainability. They sell a variety of goods including bulk teas, specialty consumables, and organic herbs.

Someone’s new to town, where are you sending them next?

Somebody new, well this is always fun, I would probably just share some of my favorites. I would let them know Early Bird is my go-to for my breakfast coffee and my sandwiches, that’s kind of my unofficial office so, I absolutely love Early Bird. I’d tell them about the parks, I’d tell them about Books and Mortar, and if they wanted a real spicy lunch I would send them over to Chez Olga, which is another really special spot on Wealthy Street. And then if they're looking for something a little more old school I’d tell them to swing through the Pickwick, and then, of course, they're gonna have to come to the Meanwhile, that would be the grand finale.

That Early Bird is a regular remote working spot for many folks, serving up great coffee and delicious food with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. You can stop in and place an order at 1445 Lake Drive or order online!

Chez Olga is a Haitian restaurant located at 1441 Wealthy Street and upon first glance, you will certainly be pulling out your phone for a photo of their beautiful and unique building. There’s something for everyone, but if you enjoy a spicy meal then you will be thrilled with the options!

A Long-standing establishment, located at 970 Cherry Street, the Pickwick has been open for over 75 years and is a true neighborhood bar. Stop in for a drink, some laughs, and a little Grand Rapids history. 

What do you love about being in Uptown?

“Many things. Walkability, as I mentioned before, is a really big deal to us, we like to reduce our carbon footprint and anytime we can just not be in a car we try to do that, so, I love the walkability. I love the historic architecture. I live in a house that’s over 100 years old, this building’s over 100 years old (The Meanwhile), and so a lot of this neighborhood has been around for a really long time with a lot of different folks coming through, I love that. There are bus lines everywhere, there’s a post office, there's a grocery store, there’s the Farmers Market, I mean one of the best Farmers Markets in the region is right here. And then countless restaurants, pubs, you can get around so easily and you can find so many different things that sometimes we just don’t leave the neighborhood very often anymore.”

About Uptown

Whether it’s a casual night out, a day of shopping or brunch date with friends, Uptown businesses always have something exciting to offer. Uptown consists of four vibrant districts: Eastown, East Fulton, East Hills and Wealthy Street that are full of character and personality. Whether you are bringing family for the first time or planning a fun day by yourself, we have something here for everyone! Plan your next visit to Uptown today!