Neighborhood Guide: Fulton Heights

Fulton Heights is a neighborhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan located in Kent county. Those who reside in Fulton Heights are surrounded by an urban atmosphere with plenty of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks.

Restaurants

Schnitz Deli is a small hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop that serves up the best quick bites. The menu is made up of fresh sandwiches with every combination you can think of using the best quality ingredients. The fast service will have you in and out in record time. Displayed inside is a massive menu board that lists every menu option with each specialty sandwich

assigned a number, a popular pick is number 24 The Big John is made with grilled sliced rib eye, & onions, melted provolone, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a French roll. Customers have the option of ordering a half sandwich that has half the meat as a full sandwich for $1 less. If the seemingly limitless sandwich menu isn’t enough, customers can build their own sandwiches with whatever meats, breads, condiments, and cheese they desire. Set a challenge for yourself and try every sandwich Schnitz has to offer.

The Vandermill Cider provides a one-of-a-kind food and cider experience. The spacious area inside is accommodated with several tables outdoors on the establishment's patio which hosts live music as well. Vandermill gives you a look at behind the scene production with a balcony that overlooks distillers.

The food menu consists of essential brewery food such as wings, burgers, fries, sandwiches, salads, and soups, a customer favorite is the Classic Double Burger with two beef smash patties, American cheese, ketchup, mustard, and pickle served with a side of fries. The start of the show however is Vandermill’s cider made with Michigan apples. The cider is not made with any preservatives and is never pasteurized with only the freshest juice incorporated. Order a cider flight to taste the various unique flavors.

Common Ground Coffee brings the best cup of joe to Grand Rapids. The locally roasted specialty grade fair trade organic coffee and flavored lattes are the perfect way to start the day. Alongside their caffeine, the cafe also offers baked goods made in-store and from the Schnitz bakery. The handmade baked

goods include muffins, bread, and doughnuts, as well as sandwiches & snacks. The cafe exudes a cozy eclectic atmosphere with late hours for studying students. The delicious drinks are reasonably priced featuring specialty roast and signature drinks, a specialty latte that stands out is the Dirty Dragon with hints of caramel and hazelnut. Common Ground Coffee has become the go-to spot for coffee in Fulton Heights.

Things to Do

The Fulton Street Farmers Market, established in 1922, connects farmers, food creators, and artists to members of the West Michigan community. The non-profit organization features

118 outdoor booths with additional space for indoor vendors. The market provides an excellent selection of fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, hand-crafted food items, and unique artisan items. Each season the Fulton Street Farmers Market hosts approximately 200 businesses giving them the chance to reach the Grand Rapids community.

Fish Ladder Park is a functional piece of architectural artwork, designed by Joseph Kinnebrew, and was built along the west bank of the Grand River in 1974. The piece was designed to

allow for fish that migrate to find a way around the strong water flow from the man-made Grand River. Here, visitors can watch fish jump up the “ladder”. Chinook and Coho salmon migrate in the fall while Steelheads typically show up in late winter. This integration of art into public park spaces has become an essential part of the Fulton Heights community.