DeVos Place & Grand Rapids: 10 Years Strong-Part 2

Monroe St. was once the home to banks, 

retail stores and factory buildings. 

#TBT: Factories along the Grand River

DeVos Place® wasn't always the grand convention center in the heart of Grand Rapids that it is now. The ground upon which it was built was once treaded on by Native Americans, ironmongers, factory workers, retailers and shoppers. With such an important part in Grand Rapids history, the land and area that DeVos Place is built upon has a vibrant history all its own.

Furniture City, U.S.A.

At the turn of the century, a variety of industries existed in the river city. If you were to stand in DeVos Place today, you could be standing in what used to be the Bissell Inc. factory. The land was full of diverse factories and businesses. From the ever-growing lumber industry to powerhouse carpet cleaning company Bissell, another market emerged in Grand Rapids, one that would continue to make strides even today… furniture. After a rough period post World Wars I and II, the furniture industry blossomed and Grand Rapids was the center of it all. Factories once surrounded the land that would eventually become the home for DeVos Place. Through Grand Rapids’ rich history in a variety of industries, the river city became the pinnacle for economic and social growth.

Along the Grand

The Grand River would prove to be a useful natural feature of Grand Rapids for a variety of reasons. Louis Campau settled his village alongside the Grand River due to the versatile waterway and promising transportation of the river. With a beautiful view from the DeVos Place convention center, it’s no wonder that the area was home to so many previous businesses and factories. When visiting DeVos Place, you can step outside and overlook the river and admire the beauty of Grand Rapids!

A Change in the Currents

What was once the grounds for factories and production eventually yielded to a more cultural focus. Through a variety of theaters, retail shops, and office buildings, the location next to the Grand River over the years has become a prime location that has been influential to the city of Grand Rapids. 

Celebrating 10 Years

Celebrate Grand Rapids’ history and DeVos Place at the DeVos Place 10th Anniversary Open House on Saturday, June 13th from 10AM-5PM! It’s free and open to the public. Join us for fun, family-friendly activities, entertainment, prizes, food, and more!

This is the second of a four part series celebrating the 10th Anniversary of DeVos Place. The series will focus on the history of Grand Rapids and DeVos Place, as well as its impact on the community. Check back next Thursday for Part 3.

10 Reasons to be Excited for the DeVos Place 10th Anniversary Celebration Open House

DeVos Place® is celebrating 10 years since the opening of the convention center. The Open House has a lot of fun activities for you and your family. Here are 10 reasons why you should get ready for Saturday, June 13th from 10 AM - 5PM. 

#1: Fun Family Activities! 
DeVos Place’s Celebration Open House is full of family friendly activities for all ages! There will be entertainment for all with rides, activities and games from local vendors and much more!

#2: Your favorite community organizations!
Your favorite community organizations are joining us at DeVos Place to celebrate 10 great years! Some of these organizations include local favorites The Rapid, Grand Rapids Police and Fire Department, Circle Theatre, Paws with a Cause, the Kent District Library and many more! Come out and see the awesome organizations that are ready to provide a day full of fun for you and the family!

#3: Mascots, mascots, mascots!
What would a celebration be without mascots? We have a variety of your favorites stopping by the Open House, including West Michigan Whitecaps’ “Crash the River Rascal;” the Grand Rapids Griffin’s “Griff;” and Michigan State University’s “Sparty.” There will also be other characters roaming through the Open House, including Jungle Book characters from Circle Theatre, and many more. Don’t forget to take a picture with New Salem Corn Maze’s Patty the Prize Cow! Come and take a snapshot with your favorite characters at the Open House!

#4: We ♥ Animals! 
Come spend your Saturday by petting cute animals from the Critter Barn’s traveling farm. You will also get to meet our fellow K9 friends from the Grand Rapids Police Department and learn how helpful dogs are with Paws with a Cause! Pet Tales Rescue will also be there, with adoptable dogs available to check out all day! 

#5: Fun for all! 
Whether you’re here with the family or by yourself, there is an endless amount of fun at the DeVos Place 10th Anniversary Open House! Be sure to check out all of the local community organization booths and vendors. If you want some musical entertainment, check out critically-acclaimed Jump with Jill, entertainment for children that teaches them the importance of eating healthy! The Grand Rapids Children Museum will be hosting an obstacle course and providing a Lego table and the Kent District Library is bringing oversized games, keeping children and adults alike entertained!

#6: Free food!
If you’re a fan of a cold Pepsi® and a hot dog, be one of the first 10,000 people to show up to the Open House and you’ll receive them for free!

#7: A fun filled entertainment stage!
For this special 10th Anniversary, DeVos Place has an awesome line-up of talented performers to keep you busy on our entertainment stage. Performances include Alysha Sha from the DDA Buskers, Freehand Band, The Diemakers, and many more! Be sure to check out the stage with fun entertainment for all ages!* *Entertainers are subject to change.

#8: Be a Part of Grand Rapids History! 
DeVos Place and Performance Hall play a large part in Grand Rapids history. From being right in the heart of Grand Rapids and being right in the epicenter of arts and culture, DeVos Place has a vibrant history of its own. Be a part of that history and celebrate 10 years of a great partnership: Grand Rapids and DeVos Place!

#9: Prizes!
Do you like getting free stuff? So do we! A variety of organizations are giving away prizes such as tickets to local events, venues and much more! Be present at the Open House to enter and you may have a chance to win something cool!

#10: Celebrate!
DeVos Place finalized the convention center and opened its doors to the Grand Rapids community 10 years ago and it’s time to celebrate that! Come join us on Saturday, June 13th from 10 AM - 5PM! See you there!

DeVos Place & Grand Rapids: 10 Years Strong-Part 1

The grounds on which DeVos Place and DeVos Performance Hall are currently

located was the home of an assortment of Grand Rapids factories. 

#TBT: the 1800’s

DeVos Place® wasn’t always the grand convention center in the heart of Grand Rapids like it is now. The ground upon which it was built was once treaded on by Native Americans, ironmongers, factory workers, retailers, and shoppers. The land and area in which DeVos Place currently stands had a crucial role in the beginnings of the city of Grand Rapids and has a vibrant history all its own.

Grand Rapids roots

When French fur trader Louis Campau, nicknamed “the Fox” by the natives living in the area, bought his land on what is now the grounds for DeVos Place, he would become the “father of Grand Rapids.” The Campau trading post would be the pinnacle for city development. Campau laid out his village streets in the spoke style, an imitation of the ones used in France. The boundaries of his village were along the Grand River, Fulton Street, Division Avenue, and what is now Michigan Street, the heart of city today. Campau named his main street after President James Monroe, who had died in 1831.

The Fox vs. the Lyon

When Lucius Lyon, a land surveyor from New York, saw the value of the land next to the Grand River, he bought a large chunk of land just north of Campau’s. Lyon set his land with streets in the standard grid format, using compass directions instead of the radial setting that Campau used. The two settlers feuded over the name of the city, Campau insisting on keeping the name “Grand Rapids” versus Lyon, who wanted to rename the city “Kent.” With settlers attracted to the land, Lyon wanted to reconcile with Campau and connect their two settlements through Pearl Street.

Grand Rapids Business District

Canal Street through Pearl created an intricate intersection, with Monroe and Canal not meeting perfectly due to a variety of buildings that stood in the way. Ultimately, the buildings either burned down or were demolished, creating a public square that would be known as Campau Square, and today is known as Rosa Parks Circle.

Celebrating 10 Years

Celebrate Grand Rapids history and DeVos Place at the DeVos Place 10th Anniversary Open House on Saturday, June 13th from 10AM-5PM! It’s free and open to the public. Join us for fun, family-friendly activities, entertainment, prizes, food, and more!

This is the first of a four part series celebrating the 10th Anniversary of DeVos Place. The series will focus on the history of Grand Rapids and DeVos Place, as well its impact on the community. Check back next Thursday for Part 2.