As most of you know, at the Festival of Faith & Writing I’ll be leading a Festival Circle called Holy Grounds: The Role of Place in Your Spiritual and Literary Life. One of the things we’ll be discussing is the idea of how where you write can actually affect your writing.
We’ll be talking about writing in such places as quiet home offices, caffeine-fueled coffeehouses, musty old libraries, in the serene beauty of nature, awe-inspiring churches, on the subway, in prison, and while you’re traveling. Where do you like to write?
I’ll be providing those who registered for the Holy Grounds Festival Circle with a list of literary(-ish) places near Calvin College in Grand Rapids. Places to relax, get inspiration, study Midwestern scenery and characters, and write. A lot of us are traveling from out of state so I thought this list would be helpful. There are plenty of places on campus to write and grab a cup of coffee, and the Festival will probably keep everyone busy enough that they won’t need this list, but sometimes it’s nice to break free from the bubble and see something outside the Festival grounds. This list may also be helpful to writers who live in the area and are looking for a change of scenery from where they normally write. I haven’t actually been to any of these places, so tread carefully! Haha. If you’re a Michigan writer, tell us your recommended writing places, coffee shops, bookstores, and literary havens.
Literary(-ish) places in Grand Rapids:
Ladies Literary Club (now a performing arts center)
61 Sheldon Blvd SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 459-6322
Bookstores in Grand Rapids
Argos Book Shop – Grand Rapids’ Oldest and Largest Used Book Shop!
1405 Robinson Rd SE; Grand Rapids, MI 49506-1722
616-454-0111
argos@argosbooks.com
Business Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10am to 6pm; Sunday: Noon to 3:00 pm
3343 Alpine Ave. NW, #A; Grand Rapids, MI
616-784-7179
Literary Life Bookstore & More
758 Wealthy Street SE (the southwest corner of Wealthy and Eastern); Grand Rapids, MI
Business Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10am to 8pm; Sunday closed
Schuler Books & Music – Celebrating 30 years as your local, independent bookstore!
2660 28th Street SE; Grand Rapids, MI 49512
616-942-2561
info@schulerbooks.com
bookgroupsgr@schulerbooks.com
Manager: Tim@schulerbooks.com
Business Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9am to 10pm; Sunday: 10am to 7pm
Schuler Books & Music
40 Fountain N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Phone: 616-459-7750
Promotions: Emily@schulerbooks.com
Manager: Neil@schulerbooks.com
Business Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 9am to 6pm; Thursday and Friday: 9am to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday: 11am to 5pm
Coffeehouses in Grand Rapids
76 Coffee
1507 Wealthy St SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
616-301-2226
227 Winter Avenue NW; Grand Rapids, MI 49504
616-459-6257
632 Wealthy Street, SE; Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 780-7777
info@newamericancoffee.com
Business Hours: Monday to Friday: 7am – 7pm; Saturday: 9am – 5pm; Sunday: 11am – 3pm.
55 Monroe Center NW; Grand Rapids MI 49503
Business Hours: Monday to Friday: 6:30am – 5:00pm; Saturday: 9am to 5pm; Sundays: closed
Stephanie Nikolopoulos 
Leave a Reply