Some one hundred and fifty years ago the Creston-Cheshire district was a small, isolated farming community north of the newborn City of Grand Rapids’ original boundary. But the area became ripe for modern development as a wave of working class residents sought a better life outside the so-called “Bloody Fifth.”
The villainous nickname referred to the distressed area just south of Creston, bounded by Michigan Avenue to the south, Belknap Hill to the East, the Grand River to the West, and Leonard Avenue to the North. In the late 1800’s the area, located within the city’s Fifth Ward, was overcrowded by New Englanders, African Americans, as well as Canadian, French, and Irish immigrants. The mash of railroad, foundry, and factory workers lived in cramped housing and the riverfront district suffered from crime and other trouble.
As street-car lines quickly reached outward from the central city, they mobilized Polish, Dutch, and Irish citizens who sought better homes and higher-paying jobs just north of the gritty city. They built new housing, retail businesses, churches, and hotels to take advantage of an early train depot located at Plainfield and Leonard. Today, after several annexations, the Creston-Cheshire district is well within the city limits and one of its largest neighborhoods.
After a brief downturn in the late 1900’s, the district now is experiencing a revival, as new shops and restaurants locate in the area. Poetry slams and authentic Irish music. Tasty English-Indian fare and all-American burgers. Sweet desserts and plenty of parks to work off the calories. Creston-Cheshire seemingly has something for everybody and it is a unique destination for urbanites and visitors alike.
Play By Day
The district is Grand Rapids' unofficial playground. With professional baseball, bike trails extending across the state, the Grand River, and eight parks, two of them among the city’s largest, Creston-Cheshire offers plenty of opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors in an urban setting.
Riverside Park, the city’s largest at 250 acres, stretches for nearly two miles along the banks of the Grand River. Riverside provides the outdoor enthusiast with soccer fields and baseball diamonds; a challenging Frisbee golf course; a place to sun or run the dog; and miles of paved pathways to walk, bike, and roller blade. The park is the perfect spot to embark on a long biking trip, as its path connects to the White Pine Trail, which runs 100 miles north to Cadillac, Michigan.
For those who prefer a quieter and slower-paced outdoor experience, Huff Park is an 80-acre nature preserve near Ball Avenue and Aberdeen NE. Huff offers an extensive network of nature trails and, with a boardwalk twisting through a 30-acre wetland, plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife. Birdwatchers will want to pack the binoculars.
Just beyond the district’s northern boundary is Fifth-Third Ballpark, the home of the West Michigan Whitecaps baseball club, a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Plenty of professional players started their careers with the Whitecaps so a night at the park provides an easy opportunity to see the rising stars without the crowds and costs of the big league. Parking is under $5, tickets hover around $10, and brats and brew are equally affordable.
Something Sweet
Got a sweet tooth? Creston-Cheshire offers several dessert shops to get your sugar fix. Former Creston resident Tara Branham lives in Santa Monica now. But whenever she comes back to visit she is sure to stop in at Sweetland’s Candy, the area’s oldest chocolate factory. Highlights include milk chocolate coconut tingalings, chocolate turtles and, for the kids, chocolate covered animal crackers.
“Their chocolate is amazing,” Branham said.
The Las Vegas Cheesecake Company offers 21 different cheesecakes in two different sizes, six- and ten-inch. The shop does retail and wholesale business as well as weddings. The turtle cheesecake is the most popular flavor.
Too Tall’s ice cream stand also serves pizza, and dog’s too. The shop is famous locally for its special doggie sundae, complete with a biscuit on top.
Must Stop Shop Spots
With a pharmacy, barber shop, and grocery stores, retail in Creston-Cheshire is geared predominately toward providing basic services to residents. But there are at least two unique shopping destinations visitors won’t want to miss.
Herban Gardens – recognized by On the Town magazine for “Best Gifts” two-years running – features specialty and gifts items for the home and garden. The shop, which also was recently recognized for outstanding “Personal Service,” carries Michigan grown foods, jewelry, and homemade bath products. Sale items change constantly, sometimes weekly, so check back regularly.
Stone’s Throw, a Pottery Barn-like furniture store, also offers contemporary home décor and garden furnishings. Stylish and unusual gift items also are available in a small boutique at the back of the store.
Good Eats For All Tastes
With a single Burger King, the Creston-Cheshire district is not big on fast food. Rather a wide array of mom-and-pop-style restaurants provides visitors with numerous culinary options.
The Cheshire Restaurant, one of the neighborhood’s more popular destinations, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner from a no-frills menu. Locals like Amy Brower keep coming back for “the down to earth and friendly feel of the place.” Brower, a program director at the Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities, Inc., especially enjoys visiting on Mondays for free sundae night.
The North Park Café is a fine place to land for a quiet meal and good conversation. Their fried egg sandwiches and homemade sausage attract customers from across the region.
Two of the best burger joints in the city call the district home. Fat Boy might look rundown. But the diners’ hamburgers are top notch. And the Choo Choo Grill, located in a tiny old train station, features thick beef burgers, wide steak fries, homemade shakes, and an interesting collection of railroad memorabilia.
Graydon’s Crossing, just up the street from the Choo Choo, is an old style pub that features a wide selection of world-class beers and microbrews, as well as an extensive selection of wines. Their menu is a clash of Indian and English cuisine, offering dishes such as Shepard’s pie, Tandoori chicken, and fish and chips.
“The bar’s décor and beer selection remind me of my mom who is from England,” says resident Eric Doyle, formerly of San Francisco. “It is the closest I can get to home in this town.”
The Sazerac Lounge, like Graydon’s, is one of the newer bar-restaurants in Creston-Shire. Named after the first cocktail served in New Orleans – a blend of French brandy, bitters, water, and sugar – the Sazerac now serves some of the neighborhood’s finest pizza. But that is just the beginning at the Sazerac.
“In the coming months we will roll out a more New Orleans style menu including more than five different po’boy sandwiches ranging from shrimp to andouille sausage to potato and catfish,” said co-owner Louis Mestaz.
Tune It Up At Night
The Creston-Cheshire district boasts a vibrant music and entertainment scene. The Sazerac Lounge hosts a weekly poetry slam every Wednesday, an open mic night on Thursdays, and locals bands on the weekend.
Across the street, the Irish pub Quinn and Tuite’s also has a long history of booking local talent. With regular performances by Craic Wisely, the Willey’s, and the David Molinari Band, this is the place to hear the Irish folks sounds of the guitar, mandolin, and bag pipes.
“This is a great spot to see a band perform,” said J. Oscar Bittinger, a Creston resident and frequent performer at Quinn and Tuite’s. “I really love seeing David Molinari play. He does a combination of original material with a few obscure covers that reinterpret and stretch familiar songs and make them into something new.”
This is the charm of the Creston-Cheshire district. The neighborhoods boundaries stretch farther than any in the city. Yet the high level of energy is at once familiar, honest, and new.
For more information about Creston-Cheshire visit the:
-
Moving Guide-
Investing Guide
Directions to Creston-Cheshire
From the North:
Take US-131 South toward Grand Rapids and take Exit 87 toward US-131 Business/Leonard St. Stay straight to go onto Turner Ave NW and turn left onto Leonard St NW/ US-131 BR. Continue to follow Leonard St NW. Turn left onto Plainfield Ave NE and arrive in Creston-Cheshire.
From the East:
Take I-96 West toward Grand Rapids and merge onto I-196 West toward Downtown Grand Rapids/Holland. Continue to US-131 North via Exit 77A toward Cadillac and take Exit 87 toward Leonard St. Stay straight to go onto Scribner Ave NW and turn right onto Leonard St NW/US-31 BR. Continue to follow Leonard St NW. Turn left onto Plainfield Ave NE and arrive in Creston-Cheshire.
From the South:
Take US-131 North toward Grand Rapids and take Exit 87 toward Leonard St. Stay straight to go onto Scribner Ave NW and turn right onto Leonard St NW/US-31 BR. Continue to follow Leonard St NW. Turn left onto Plainfield Ave NE and arrive in Creston-Cheshire.
From the West:
Take I-96 East toward Grand Rapids and merge onto US-131 South via Exit 31A toward Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo. Continue to Exit 87 toward US-131 Business/Leonard St. Stay straight to go onto Turner Ave NW and turn left onto Leonard St NW/ US-131 BR. Continue to follow Leonard St NW. Turn left onto Plainfield Ave NE and arrive in Creston-Cheshire.
Take I-196 East toward Grand Rapids and merge onto US-131 North via Exit77A on the left toward Cadillac. Take Exit 87 toward Leonard St. Stay straight to go onto Scribner Ave NW and turn right onto Leonard St NW/US-31 BR. Continue to follow Leonard St NW. Turn left onto Plainfield Ave NE and arrive in Creston-Cheshire.