Last updated: September 23, 2026
Looking for new restaurants in Grand Rapids, new bars to check out or entertainment venues opening around town? This is Grand Rapids Night Out’s continuously updated guide to noteworthy new openings across Greater Grand Rapids.
We track restaurants, bars, coffee shops, food halls, entertainment concepts and other places worth knowing about in Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Kentwood, Grandville, Walker, Rockford and nearby communities.
Some places below are already open. Others are in soft opening, coming soon or still working through development. When an opening date has not been confirmed, we’ll say so rather than guess.
Now Open & Soft Open
Azul Agave — Forest Hills
884 Forest Hill Ave SE, Grand Rapids
Azul Agave Mexican Cuisine & Bar is now in its soft-opening phase in the former Marco New American Bistro space.
The Forest Hills restaurant is an additional location for the established West Michigan Mexican restaurant concept and includes full-service dining and a bar. A formal grand-opening date has not yet been confirmed.
Status: Open
→ Read the full Azul Agave opening story
The 1850 Room
53 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids
The 1850 Room has opened in downtown Grand Rapids in the former House of Wine space.
The new concept combines an espresso and coffee bar, light food and a social-lounge atmosphere. A cocktail and alcohol component has also been part of the plan, although full alcohol service was still developing when the business launched.
Status: Open
→ Read the full The 1850 Room opening story
Haveli Authentic Indian Restaurant
1020 28th St SW #4, Wyoming
Haveli Authentic Indian Restaurant & Sweets held its grand opening September 11.
The restaurant is now operating along the 28th Street corridor in Wyoming with Indian dishes and sweets.
Status: Open
Rasa Indian Cuisine
2222 44th St SE, Kentwood
The former Curry Leaf has relaunched as Rasa Indian Cuisine with a refreshed restaurant, updated menu and new management involvement.
This is better described as a restaurant rebrand and management change rather than an entirely new location, but it is a significant enough change for local diners to know about.
Status: Open
Seahouse Fish & Chicken
1970 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids
Seahouse Fish & Chicken opened its Grand Rapids location August 14 along South Division.
The restaurant specializes in fish, chicken and casual takeout-friendly food.
Status: Open
Street Eats & Boba
1117 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids
Street Eats & Boba is now operating on Wealthy Street.
The restaurant has active online ordering, dine-in service and posted operating hours, although a specific grand-opening date was not publicly established.
Status: Open
Watusi
1220 College Ave NE, Grand Rapids
Watusi is now open in Grand Rapids’ Creston neighborhood, taking over the former Mai’s Thai space on College Avenue. The restaurant from owners Sarah Andro and Delie Minnema focuses on scratch-made comfort food with a rotating menu and a strong soul-food influence.
Recent menus have featured items such as rib plates, turkey knuckle sandwiches, mac & cheese, red beans and rice, plantain chicken sliders and other rotating seasonal dishes. The restaurant’s small-menu approach lets the kitchen change things up frequently rather than locking into one permanent menu.
Status: Open
Myanmar Meals
Grand Rapids Downtown Market — 435 Ionia Ave SW
Myanmar Meals is now open and operating inside the Downtown Market.
The restaurant brings Burmese/Myanmar cuisine to the Market Hall and currently maintains regular public service hours.
Status: Open
The Ayo Place
3055 Red Mill Ave, Grandville
The Ayo Place is a new entertainment and hospitality venue in Grandville.
The venue held its grand-opening celebration August 28 and now maintains an active calendar of events.
Status: Open
Legacy Winery & Spirits — Hudsonville
Downtown Hudsonville
Legacy Winery & Spirits has opened its Hudsonville tasting room.
The locally owned wine and spirits business celebrated the new location with an August 22 grand opening.
Status: Open
MudPenny — Rockford
28 S Main St, Rockford
MudPenny is now open on the ground floor of Hotel Rose in downtown Rockford, bringing the West Michigan restaurant and coffee brand’s scratch-made brunch, dinner, house-roasted coffee and cocktails to Main Street. The Rockford location occupies the south end of the Hotel Rose development. The menu ranges from brunch favorites and specialty coffee to dinner entrees, shareables and craft cocktails, giving the location a much broader day-to-night feel than a typical coffee shop.
Status: Open
Opening Soon
Montejo’s Cookhouse
128 28th St SW, Wyoming
Montejo’s Cookhouse is turning its popular mobile Cuban food concept into its first permanent restaurant.
The family-run business is taking over the former Bosna Express space and plans a Saturday, October 10 grand opening featuring live Cuban music.
Expect Cuban dishes, Cuban-style pizza and batidos among the offerings.
Opening: October 10, 2026
→ Read the full Montejo’s Cookhouse opening story
Raising Cane’s — Grandville
3980 Rivertown Mall Path, Grandville
Raising Cane’s continues to move toward opening its new restaurant near RiverTown Crossings.
The chicken-finger chain is actively hiring for the Grandville restaurant. Development information has pointed toward an October opening window, but Raising Cane’s has not yet announced a confirmed first-service date.
Status: Hiring / opening soon
Target: October 2026
→ Read the full Raising Cane’s Grandville opening update
Gangnam Kitchen
Tanger Outlets — 350 84th St SW, Byron Center
Gangnam Kitchen is preparing a Korean street-food concept at Tanger Outlets Grand Rapids.
The restaurant is planned for a space between Aerie and Levi’s and has been advertised for a 2026 opening.
Status: Coming soon
GR Taco Shop
Grand Rapids Downtown Market — 435 Ionia Ave SW
GR Taco Shop is preparing to take over the former Tacos El Cuñado space inside the Downtown Market.
The taco concept comes from Ashley Cano and El Toro Bravo and has been announced for fall 2026.
Status: Coming soon
Opening: Fall 2026
Dubai Bites
2260 Alpine Ave NW, Walker
A new Mediterranean drive-thru concept is preparing to open in the former Mr. Gyros location on Alpine Avenue.
Dubai Bites is a family-run project that has been targeting a fall opening. The business has also begun promoting a large opening-day giveaway, suggesting the launch is getting closer.
An exact opening date has not yet been announced.
Status: Coming soon
Sweet Kisses Bakery
RiverTown Crossings — 3700 Rivertown Pkwy, Grandville
Sweet Kisses Bakery is preparing its first permanent brick-and-mortar bakery at RiverTown Crossings.
The Wyoming-based bakery has built its business through custom orders and pop-ups. RiverTown Crossings now lists the bakery as coming soon upstairs near Fun Zone.
Status: Coming soon
Opening: Date TBD
New Licari’s Concept on Knapp Street
2869 Knapp St NE, Grand Rapids
Gianni and Lisa Licari are preparing a new restaurant concept at their former Knapp Street location.
The project is connected to the owners of Licari’s Sicilian Pizza Kitchen, but the final public-facing restaurant name has not yet been announced.
A late-October opening has been discussed as a target, not a confirmed opening date.
Status: Announced
Target: Late October 2026
Solace
Former Forty Acres space, Grand Rapids
Chef Trimell Hawkins plans to bring a new restaurant called Solace to the former Forty Acres space.
This is expected to be a new concept rather than simply a Forty Acres rebrand.
An exact public opening date remains unconfirmed.
Status: Announced
Major Restaurant & Bar Projects in Development
Palominos Mexican Cuisine — Wyoming
2184 Metro Lane SW, Wyoming
Palominos Mexican Cuisine is moving forward with plans for a substantial Mexican restaurant and event venue near University of Michigan Health-West.
Plans call for a large restaurant, outdoor patio and flexible event space.
The property transaction and local planning work have advanced, but construction and opening dates have not yet been officially confirmed.
Status: Proposed / moving forward
→ Read the full Palominos Mexican Cuisine story
The Park Collective — Comstock Park
247 Morrissey Drive NE, Comstock Park
The Park Collective is a planned food hall and restaurant-incubator project near LMCU Ballpark.
Plans call for approximately four to five restaurant concepts, a dessert or ice cream operation and a centralized bar inside the former Tommy’s Boats showroom.
Plainfield Township approvals have cleared an important development hurdle. Renovations could begin late in 2026, with an opening targeted for 2027 if development proceeds as planned.
Status: In development
Target: 2027
→ Read the full Park Collective development story
Hoxie House — Creston
1415 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids
Hoxie House is a developing hospitality project in Grand Rapids’ Creston area.
The project has advanced through city approvals, including approval related to a Development District Liquor License.
A final opening date has not been announced.
Status: In development
Raising Cane’s — Walker
3179 Alpine Ave NW, Walker
Grandville isn’t the only Raising Cane’s project coming to Greater Grand Rapids.
The chain is also planning a Walker restaurant on Alpine Avenue and has been actively recruiting management for the future location.
Earlier reporting pointed toward an early-2027 opening, but an exact date remains TBD.
Status: In development / hiring
Target: Early 2027
Culver’s — Plainfield Avenue
3127 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids
A new Culver’s has been proposed for Plainfield Avenue, but this project should be considered on hold rather than coming soon.
The planning item has been postponed or removed from Planning Commission consideration multiple times.
We’ll move it back into the Coming Soon section if the project begins advancing again.
Status: On hold
Restaurant Changes Worth Knowing About
Graydon’s Crossing Has New Ownership
1223 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids
Graydon’s Crossing has changed hands, with the restaurant operation acquired by the owner of MudPenny.
An interior renovation is planned, but Graydon’s remains a continuing restaurant concept unless the new owner announces a larger change.
Status: Ownership change / renovation planned
GR Taco Shop Replacing Tacos El Cuñado at Downtown Market
Tacos El Cuñado has ended its run inside the Grand Rapids Downtown Market.
Its former stall is being prepared for GR Taco Shop, giving Downtown Market visitors a new taco concept to watch for this fall.
Know of something NEW coming to Greater Grand Rapids?
LET US KNOW!!!!!
Please send an email to Info@GrandRapidsNightOut.com and send any details! Could be as short as ‘I Saw a SIGN in the window’. Thank You & Have a GRNO WEEK! **We Are Local**
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some of the newest restaurants in Grand Rapids?
Recent openings and soft openings include Azul Agave in Forest Hills, The 1850 Room downtown, Haveli in Wyoming, Rasa Indian Cuisine in Kentwood, Seahouse Fish & Chicken and several other new or relaunched concepts.
What restaurants are opening soon around Grand Rapids?
Notable upcoming openings include Montejo’s Cookhouse in Wyoming, Raising Cane’s in Grandville, MudPenny at Hotel Rose in Rockford, Gangnam Kitchen at Tanger Outlets, GR Taco Shop at the Downtown Market, Dubai Bites in Walker and Sweet Kisses Bakery at RiverTown Crossings.
Is Raising Cane’s open in Grandville yet?
Not yet. Raising Cane’s is actively hiring for its restaurant near RiverTown Crossings, but a confirmed public opening date has not yet been announced.
When does Montejo’s Cookhouse open?
Montejo’s Cookhouse plans to celebrate the grand opening of its first permanent restaurant in Wyoming on October 10, 2026, with live Cuban music planned.
Does this list include places outside the city of Grand Rapids?
Yes. Grand Rapids Night Out covers noteworthy restaurant, bar and entertainment openings throughout Greater Grand Rapids, including Wyoming, Kentwood, Grandville, Walker, Rockford, Byron Center and other nearby communities.
How often is this page updated?
We update the guide as meaningful new openings are discovered, businesses begin serving customers, opening dates change or major new development information is confirmed.
See something that changed? Restaurant opening dates move frequently. If you own or operate one of these businesses and something needs correcting, let Grand Rapids Night Out know so we can keep the guide current.
Please send an email to Info@GrandRapidsNightOut.com and send any details! Let us know if you find Something NEW coming to the Greater Grand Rapids area!
Thank You & Have a GRNO WEEK! **We Are Local**
