Ride Local, Shop Local
Throughout the year, Grand Rapidians choose public transit to help them meet their shopping needs. From the malls and big box retailers to specialty shops and grocery stores, The Rapid helps area shoppers bring home the goods. A growing movement is to buy local, with organizations like Local First guiding shoppers to independent, locally owned retailers who provide their customers with unique, one-of-a-kind experiences and the assurance that more of their dollars will remain in West Michigan. For every $100 spent at a locally owned retailer, $73 remains in the community, as opposed to just $43 for non-locally owned businesses.
A popular destination to shop local is the greater Uptown area, which encompasses the East Hills, East Fulton, Wealthy Street and Eastown business districts. Offering a wide array of locally owned shops and restaurants, Uptown has quickly become a destination for riders of The Rapid.
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