After A Year And Half In Business, Another Downtown Grand Rapids Restaurant Shuts Down

Downtown Grand Rapids is losing another eatery. In 2025 alone, we've already said goodbye to Pochis Colombian Café, House of Wine, Beacon Corner Bar, and Local Mocha.

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Now, a joint that describes itself as a "fine dive bar" is closing its doors.

The Foolery first opened at 10 Ionia Ave. at the end of 2023. It replaced the short-lived Wahlburgers in the same space.

The whimsical, nostalgic joint served up Detroit-style pizza, salads, and a variety of appetizers like Birria egg rolls, fried pickles, wings, pork belly bao bun, hot honey bread, plus seasonal specials. Their drink menu leaned just as playful, with creative craft cocktails, local beer, cider, wine, and champagne.

Owner Spencer Raymond runs another restaurant that's also inside the Residence Inn by Marriott—Social Misfits. And it sounds like focusing on the brand's other eateries is the reason The Foolery is closing.

READ MORE: This Grand Rapids Bakery is Shutting Down—For Now

In a Facebook post, Raymond explained:

Raymond shared news of the restaurant's impending closure to Facebook saying,

We’ve made the tough call to close The Foolery so we can focus our full energy on growing Social Misfits and Misfit Society Coffee Club—the brands Misfit Joints was built on and where our passion truly lives.
The Foolery was a blast. We set out to build a nostalgic, unhinged destination for all-time good times—and we did. But continuing to operate it would limit our ability to give the rest of our brand family the attention and energy they deserve.

Misfit Society Coffee Club is set to open a second location in Ann Arbor this August, and a third could be on the way. Plans for another Social Misfits location are also in the works.

READ MORE: Michigan's Best Seafood Restaurant is in Grand Rapids

If you’re hoping for one last visit to The Foolery, get in before July 11.

While it's a bummer to see another restaurant closing, more are opening all the time in West Michigan. Below find 20+ new eateries to check out.