Insider Guide: Stacey Bierling

Graphic designer Stacey Bierling grew up in Grand Rapids and attended college at Grand Valley State University where she received a fine arts degree with an emphasis in graphic design. She started working in Holland, then started her own graphic design business about six years ago. Most of her clientele base now is in Grand Haven.

“There’s a lot to do, you just don’t know it’s there,” she says. “It looks like an itty bitty community but there’s always festivals going on, they do have a downtown bar scene [with everything from] casual sports bars, dive bars, martini bars, sushi bars … for being a small downtown there’s actually quite a bit there.”

One of her favorite places to go is 22 Below, which has more of a sports bar atmosphere. “It has a nice atmosphere for just hanging out. If there’s music, it’s acoustic – it’s not too loud, and the crowd is pretty relaxed. And they’ve got great burgers!”

She also recommends the Theater Bar, a tiny martini bar where everyone socializes with everyone else. “[It’s the kind of place that is] really open to chit-chatting. You always end up talking to everyone who’s there.”

The Grand, attached to the Theater Bar, is an upscale seafood and sushi restaurant. But for sushi, Bierling prefers Jelly. “It’s right on the channel overlooking the water,” she says. “You can’t beat sitting there with a glass of wine watching the sunset.” It’s a small space but they have a full menu in addition to excellent sushi, and also hold wine tastings on occasion.

“The Kirby” is a popular complex featuring four separate bar/restaurants within one building, including both casual and fine dining and a nightclub. “There are three separate food menus depending on where you’re at,” Bierling says. “You could spend the whole night there and [never get bored].”

For a more casual vibe, the Tip a Few is a popular spot with the locals. It’s more of a dive bar but they have cheap drinks and solid Mexi-Merican food like wet burritos and enchiladas. There are also several locally-owned coffee shops, which Bierling likes to use for client meetings. She recommends Jumpin' Java and Coffee Grounds. She also really likes Odd Side Ales, a little downtown brewery that makes specialty small-batch brews. “You always get very custom beers that only last a couple of weeks. They’re fantastic, I never had one I didn’t like.” The brewery does not serve food, but you can order pizza delivery or take-out from any of the nearby restaurants and enjoy it with your beer.

For shopping, Bierling loves Down to Earth, a women’s clothing and home accessories store. “The clothing tends to be very trendy, not what you’re going to find in department stores. There’s usually only one of each size in stock so it’s very limited.” The popular Grand Rapids store Lee and Birch just opened a second location in Grand Haven. GH is home to a lot of specialty shops and art galleries as well, including Santo Stefano del Lago, a gourmet food market that hosts regular wine tastings, and Gallery Uptown, an art gallery that features the work of 30 award-winning western Michigan artists year-round. Every month they also host a new exhibit in their Walburg Gallery; the opening reception for these exhibits is the first Friday of every month from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. and are open to the public (hors d’oeuvres are served).

For pampering, Studio 206 now offers full spa services along with salon services. And for lovers of the outdoors, the Grand Haven Boardwalk with its long stretch of sugar sand beach and the concrete catwalk leading out to the lighthouse offers unparalleled beauty and opportunities for outdoor adventure.