Grand Coney begins renovations on third diner location on 28th St. and Madison

Diner-style restaurant Grand Coney is waiting on the city of Grand Rapids to approve building permits for renovations at 401 28th Street SE and Madison St., with plans to house its third location in the 1,800-square-foot building shortly after the new year.

Jeff Lobdell is president of Restaurant Partners, Inc., which owns Grand Coney alongside 13 other West Michigan restaurants. He says the former Sunrise Family Restaurant building is located on a busy intersection with a high-density population within its two-mile radius; in other words, perfect for the Grand Coney brand. 

“We like high-traffic, high-density locations,” says Lobdell, whose Restaurant Partners, Inc. purchased the property over a year ago. “We like places where there are a lot of cars because the Grand Coney diner is a very convenient concept. If you’re hungry you can get in and get out pretty quick, but still have a nice sit-down meal.” 

Grand Coney’s third location at 401 28th Street SE will create 15-20 full-time jobs, with an additional 15-20 part-time positions. Lobdell says he’s already hired a few managers who are currently undergoing training at the downtown Grand Rapids location, but plans on making more hires in the coming months as renovations draw closer to completion. 

Grand Coney’s flagship 24-7 location first opened in 2004 at 809 Michigan St., followed in 2008 by its second Allendale location near Grand Valley State University on Lake Michigan Drive.

Lobdell says initially, the 28th Street location will only offer 24-7 service on Thursday-Saturday to gauge interest there for an all-night diner, operating under normal hours from Sunday-Wednesday.

“I think that this Grand Coney diner restaurant has been very well received in Grand Rapids on Michigan Street and also in Allendale, so based on how well the guests have liked it and how well the restaurants are doing, we decided to open one here at 28th and Madison in that neighborhood and we will be actively looking for additional sites.” 

For more information about the official opening date for the new location, or to learn how to apply for available jobs there, visit www.grandconeygr.com or find Grand Coney on Facebook.

By Anya Zentmeyer, Development News Editor
Images courtesy of Restaurant Partners, Inc.