Great Memories of These Grand Rapids Restaurants!

While I was searching the Facebook site, If you Grew Up in Grand Rapids, I stumbled on a post from Diane Mooney, and what memories it brought back.

The Great Lakes Shipping Company, Duba's and the Schnitzelbank were great restaurants in their day.

The Great Lakes Shipping Company restaurant was the longest-running tenant for Breton Village, built in 1971 and opening as The Starboard Tack, by West Michigan restaurateur Richard DenUyl.

GREAT LAKES SHIPPING COMPANY

DenUyl died in 2008. He had opened nearly 20 restaurants in his career, including the Point West Inn overlooking Lake Macatawa in Holland, which is also gone.

The Shipping Company closed several year ago, and has been torn down because of a dispute with their landlord. With it's cozy, multiple fireplaces and bar, it was a must visit local watering hole and restaurant.

Duba's, which was on Stockiing on the West Side for ever. Their grand opening was on July 13, 1950, under the name Rocket Bar and Cafeteria at their familiar 420 Stocking N.W. location. They later changed the name to Rocket Bar and Restaurant, and later yet to Rocked Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge. In September of 1968 it became Duba's Rocket Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge, and in December of 1969 the "Rocket" name was dropped and it became Duba's Restaurant and Lounge.

DUBA'S RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE

And, of course, the Schnitzelbank!

SCHNITZELBANK

The restaurant was the oldest German restaurant in Grand Rapids. Affectionately known as “The Schnitz” by all who loved to eat there, this German restaurant opened in 1934 on Wealthy Street in Grand Rapids and moved to its Jefferson Street location in 1938. The restaurant was family-owned and run for three generation. Surrounded by Mary Free Bed Hospital, after many overtures, the owners of the Schnitzelbank decided that the time had come and the offer was right to sell the restaurant to the hospital. 

What other great, Grand Rapids restaurants do you miss?