Grand Rapids Downtown Market celebrates fifth anniversary with community birthday party

The Grand Rapids Downtown Market celebrates its fifth anniversary this week with four days of special deals and promotions leading up to a free fifth birthday party event to celebrate with the community on Saturday, September 8.

“Over the past five years, the city of Grand Rapids and the entire West Michigan community have been extremely supportive of the work of the Downtown Market, including our amazing tenants, as well as our initiatives and programs that support our mission. Because of that, we wanted to say thank you through a week of fun and celebration,” said Mimi Fritz, president and CEO of the Downtown Market. “We would be honored to have you join us as we celebrate the success of our first five years, the changes and investments in our neighborhood, and the anticipation of our future as a leader in food, community and culture."

The weeklong 5th birthday celebration includes:

• Tuesday, September 4: Celebrate five years of food and fun with Market Hall deals based on the number “5,” such as $5 beer wine and cheese, waffles, medium waffle cones and more, $5 off fresh flowers and two for $5 cookies and croissants.

• Wednesday, September 5: $5 Happy Hour at 5 p.m. on Sept. 5. Join us at 5 p.m. on 9/5 for $5 drink deals and food specials, like $5 ice cream cocktails, loaves of bread, cheeseburgers, smoothies, juices and margaritas and an oyster and champagne combo.

• Thursday, September 6: Pop for a Prize sweepstakes (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.) Choose a balloon to pop and keep the prize inside! Gifts, merchandise, candy and more!

• Friday, September 7: $5 gift card to first 100 people in the door. Get here early to receive a $5 gift card when the doors open. Valid while supplies last.

• Saturday, September 8: Downtown Market’s 5th birthday party! This will be a party like no other from noon – 8 p.m., with activities for kids and adults, including giant inflatables, birthday crafts for kids, magic shows, balloon animals, giveaways, outdoor games, outdoor bar, live music from Project 90 and KJ & The Good Time Family Band, a cake eating contest and so much more. (Schedule is available online at: http://downtownmarketgr.com/classes-events/5-years-of-food-fun-birthday-party)

The Market is also hosting a variety of giveaways on Saturday, which guests can register for while they’re at the party, including:

• • A year of fries from Social Kitchen and Bar

  • A birthday pie or cake from Sweetie-licious

  • Five months of the Cheese of the Month Club from Aperitivo

  • A year of pints from Love's Ice Cream

  • Cooking class for a group of five

  • A year of bubble tea from Rak Thai

  • A free wedding at the Downtown Market

Since its inception in 2013, the Downtown Market ecosystem, including the incubator kitchen, has launched more than 85 businesses, created 500 jobs, and counseled more than 450 businesses. In 2017, the Market welcomed nearly one million visitors, and celebrated a 14 percent sales increase over 2016.

During the past five years, multiple, formerly vacant warehouses in the “Market District” have been redeveloped into apartments and additional retail and the city of Grand Rapids developed a new surface parking lot across the street from the Market to assist with the growth of traffic in the region.

“We envisioned the Downtown Market as the ideal space to build on West Michigan’s growing food culture, connect people more closely with their food options, and encourage redevelopment in another section of our great city,” said Dick DeVos, Grand Action co-chair. “Five years on, it has become THE place for locals and visitors to get fresh, delicious local food, an ecosystem of entrepreneurs, and a vibrant part of our expanding downtown community.”

More info about the week of events is available on the Downtown Market calendar: http://downtownmarketgr.com/classes-events/month/2018/09