#RG20LookBack: Sunday Soup and the power of community support
In his 17th #RG20LookBack, Rapid Growth Publisher Tommy Allen revisits Juliet Bennett Rylah’s 2010 story on the rise of community investment funding in the urban core.
#RG20LookBack
In honor of Rapid Growth’s 20th anniversary, Publisher Tommy Allen revisits stories from the archives, offering a fresh perspective through behind-the-scenes insights, analysis, and updates on how those topics have evolved.
#RG20LookBack: More than a real estate offer, revisiting the Westside’s Tip Top Deluxe
In his 16th #RG20LookBack, Rapid Growth Publisher Tommy Allen revisits Nick Manes’ 2011 story on Tip Top, depicting the West Side bar as gritty, inviting and central to community life.
#RG20LookBack: Before the riverfront boom, a broader civic vision was inked by the community
In his 15th #RG20LookBack, Rapid Growth Publisher Tommy Allen revisits Nikos Monoyios's 2008 article, “Why Civic Centers Matter,” which frames green spaces as essential to a thriving civic environment.
#RG20LookBack: Beyond Record Store Day festivities, a real GR success story worth celebrating
In his 14th #RG20LookBack, Rapid Growth Publisher Tommy Allen revisits his 2013 story on Herm Baker, whose journey from Vinyl Solution to Vertigo Music reflects resilient innovation shaping Grand Rapids’ music culture.
#RG20LookBack: Music as infrastructure, talent retention, neighborhood identity, and the glue of community
In his 13th #RG20LookBack column, Rapid Growth publisher Tommy Allen reflects on the 2022 story by Enrique Olmos, which serves as a reminder that the region’s music economy is about more than entertainment.
#RG20LookBack: The Grand River is having the moment we imagined—together
In his 12th #RG20LookBack column, Rapid Growth publisher Tommy Allen revisits the 2008 story, “A River Runs Through Green Grand Rapids,” which now reads like an early spark for everything unfolding along the Grand River today.
#RG20LookBack: Hungry for community? Step out; mingle.
In his eleventh #RG20LookBack column, Rapid Growth Publisher Tommy Allen revisits his 2014 story, “The Vegan Kitchen Takeover: Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill,” reflecting on how local restaurants can be spaces for connection and community.
#RG20LookBack: From an “Atomic” moment to the present day
For his tenth #RG20LookBack column, Rapid Growth Publisher Tommy Allen revisits its 2007 “Atomic Object is People” story, tracing West Michigan’s thriving tech culture.
#RG20LookBack: Power of art as a community convener
For his ninth #RG20LookBack, Publisher Tommy Allen revisits his 2013 story, written while he was Lifestyle Editor, about the Division Avenue Arts Collective’s eviction from Avenue for the Arts just days before its 10th anniversary.
#RG20LookBack: A bit of hope at start of Women’s History Month
For his eighth #RG20LookBack, Publisher Tommy Allen honors Women’s History Month by revisiting a 2018 series that not only celebrates women-owned businesses but also highlights how many entrepreneurs begin their education long before they ever step into a classroom.
