Alright guys, here we are heading into another week of Small Business Saturday blog posts. This week we had quite a few of our followers reach out expressing their love for Van’s Pastry Shoppe! Since I have never been we thought this would be the perfect first experience.
I am going to start out by telling you all that I LOVE pastries and especially donuts. When people ask what my favorite food is I typically tell them that donuts are at the top of the list. So you know that I was ready to RUN to Van’s and get a yummy donut and wash it down with a nice hot coffee, which let’s be honest, everyone could have used a hot cup of coffee this blistering cold week in Grand Rapids.
And guess what!? It costs you about $1 for both of those at Van’s Pastry Shoppe. I know – this is pretty crazy news.
Upon walking into the shop the first thing I noticed (besides the wonderful smell) was the cookie jar collection. I was able to speak with Dave Vandermeer who helps run the shop with his father. He informed me that the cookie jar collection is his mother’s and that she has been collecting them for over 35 years! Not all of them are currently being displayed either. There are more in the basement that are rotated in and out depending on the season. It is quite the extensive collection that you really should check out while you’re there!
Along with cookie jars and vintage toy cars, the shelves are lined with pastries galore! They have donuts, cookies, tarts, cream puffs, coffee cakes, muffins, and even options for lunch. On top of the amazing selection in store, their bread is also supplied to well-known restaurants in the area like Rainbow Grill, Red Geranium, and others!
If you want to support a local business with a history in Grand Rapids, Van’s has been in this location for 75 years and in the East Fulton neighborhood for even longer. With businesses coming and going in the area, Van’s has been here for their customers whether they have been coming for years or they are brand new (like me).
Thanks for letting us explore your shop and getting to know a little more about the business. I will gladly return for another cherry fried cinnamon donut.
-Aubrey
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