Longtime Vegetarian Restaurant Shutting Down, New Owner Plans Hookah Lounge and Cocktail Bar

GRAND RAPIDS - A beloved vegetarian restaurant in Grand Rapids' Creston Heights neighborhood is closing its doors at the end of March, making way for a completely different type of business.

Gaia House Cafe, which had been serving vegetarian food since its revival in 2021, will close its location at 1553 Plainfield Avenue NE after the current owner decided not to renew her lease.

"I think the event space will do really well in this area because it will be something affordable that everybody can use," said Allen Durham, the new owner of the space. "Downtown has breweries and things, but we don't have a kick-back lounge, a place where you can have a conversation. It's either a brewery or a full-on nightclub, nothing really in between."

Durham, a former professional basketball player who played overseas and in the NBA G-League, purchased the building last May. He recently took over as the men's basketball coach at Kuyper College for the 2025-2026 season after coaching locally, including a role at Davenport University.

The new owner has plans to transform the space into a cocktail bar and hookah lounge. Renovations are expected to begin soon, with the new establishment anticipated to open by the end of the year.

"It's the gateway to West Fulton, what I would say is an underserved or under-attentioned corridor that comes directly out of the center of Grand Rapids," Durham said. "Certainly West Side of Grand Rapids is getting a lot of investment and has over the years with Bridge Street and the now soccer stadium."

A Restaurant With Deep Roots in Grand Rapids

Gaia House Cafe has a rich history in Grand Rapids dating back to the 1980s when it operated as Gaia Cafe, a poetry and coffee house in East Hills. After closing in 2014, the concept made a comeback in 2021 when longtime employee Andrea Bumstead revived the restaurant and relocated it to its current Creston Heights location.

Under Bumstead's leadership, the eatery offered a vegetarian menu featuring salads, soups, sandwiches, breakfast items, and desserts. The restaurant quickly became a fixture in the neighborhood, attracting locals who appreciated its unique concept and commitment to plant-based cuisine.

Bumstead chose not to renew her lease when Durham purchased the property, ending nearly two years of vegetarian dining at the location. The fate of Gaia House Cafe remains uncertain at this point, with no official announcement regarding a permanent closure.

"The space has deep roots in the city," according to the building's history. "Longtime locals might remember it as Gaia Cafe, a poetry and coffee house back in the 1980s before it eventually became a vegetarian restaurant in East Hills."

A Shift in Grand Rapids' Dining Scene

The transformation of Gaia House Cafe represents another chapter in Grand Rapids' ever-evolving dining landscape. The city has seen numerous restaurant openings and closings in recent years as businesses adapt to changing consumer preferences and economic conditions.

Durham's new concept aims to fill what he sees as a gap in the local nightlife scene. He's targeting a middle ground between the full-service dining options and high-energy nightclubs, creating a more relaxed environment where patrons can enjoy conversation and drinks.

"If all goes according to plan, renovations will begin soon, with the new bar and lounge expected to open by the end of the year," Durham said. "I think the event space will do really well in this area because it will be something affordable that everybody can use."

The upcoming establishment will offer a more casual atmosphere compared to the traditional restaurant setting that Gaia House Cafe provided. Durham hopes to create a space that appeals to a broad range of customers looking for a place to unwind after work or socialize with friends.

Sources

• https://wgrd.com/grand-rapids-gaia-closing-hookah-lounge/
• https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/restaurants-1/vegetarian-restaurant-gaia-house-closes-creston-location-as-cocktail-bar-takes-over/