Peter Ross and Mike Powers got a look inside the market
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - Grand Rapids Downtown Market opens this summer, but we know we'll be able to get ice cream and coffee there when it does.
The first two of 24 vendors for the indoor Market Hall were announced Monday morning. Simpatico Coffee, based in Holland, Michigan and Love's Ice Cream, a hand-crafted, boutique ice cream entrepreneur will be there selling their wares.
The market is scheduled to open this summer with 138,000 square feet of fresh produce, artisan food, local farms and entertainment.
"We are only 18 months old, but we are excited to expand Simpatico Coffee into downtown Grand Rapids," said Alex Fink, owner of Simpatico Coffee in a press release from the market. "We want to make coffee a fun experience, show people where the beans come from, how coffee is roasted and just how fresh coffee can be."
Founded in 2011, Simpatico Coffee is a single-origin roaster, sourcing its fair-trade beans from the Oaxaca region of Mexico. To date, the company has sold its beans at local coffee shops, restaurants, specialty stores, and from its Holland production facility. This is the company's second retail location.
Love's Ice Cream was founded recently by Chris McKeller, a local entrepreneur, former owner of an Internet commerce developer, and founder of Grand Rapids Cooking School, which offers classes and programming geared for the home cook.
"Having the chance to meticulously craft food and know that I'm satisfying people on a deeper level drove me to invest in the Downtown Market," said Chris McKeller, founder of Love's Ice Cream in the press statement. "I am a bit obsessed with ingredients, and the Market allows me to share my whole food perspective around organic, local, and quality with others like me."
The Market is scheduled to open in Summer 2013.
About the Grand Rapids Downtown Market
Currently under construction, the Grand Rapids Downtown Market will be the region's choice for fresh, delicious foods and amazing public market merchants. When completed, the Market will be a $30 million, self-sustaining, LEED-certified, mixed-use facility that brings together production, distribution, marketing and education about local foods and growing. It will incorporate entrepreneur and experimentation space for both emerging and experienced food artisans and merchants including a 24-vendor Market Hall, large outdoor farmer's market and two full-service restaurants, one of which will be a micro-brewery. The Market is scheduled to open in Summer 2013. More at www.downtownmarketgr.com.