The Best Christmas Spirit in Grand Rapids? The Broadway Bar!

For all the years I have lived in Grand Rapids, I had never been to the Broadway Bar on the West Side, 740 Broadway, NW, Grand Rapids 49504. It's a nice little watering hole on any given day, but during Christmas it goes crazy.

I had always heard about it but just never took the time to stop by. I went this weekend with friends and boy, now I saw what I had missed.

With decoration on almost every inch of space inside the Broadway it's overwhelming. It is the most Christmas centric celebration I have ever seen, not to mention that everyone, and I mean everyone is having a good time. How can you not? If you are in a Grinchy mood, you'll lose it at the Broadway! By the way, the food is good, too!

How did the Broadway become THE Christmas bar to go to over the holidays? Fox17 reported that bartender Tom Schuitema started decorating back in the late 1990’s as a way to brighten people’s spirits during the holidays.

Tom said he had been collecting and displaying Christmas items since he was a young boy.

He needed to put some joy back into his life after his parents divorce and collecting and displaying Christmas decorations helped do it for him.

So he started bringing some of his collection down to the bar on a small scale, and it just grew from there.

Schuitema said that now customers have started bringing him decorations. How crazy.

You know what, though. It has to worth it to a smile on peoples faces. Schuitema said:

“This is Christmas. It’s time to put smiles on people’s faces. That’s what we’re trying to do. I had a guy come in yesterday and he handed me a nice tip, and he says, ‘I want you to have this just because you put a smile on my face.’ He says, ‘I needed it today,’ and that kind of hit me right there.”

Can you still get into the Broadway? Uh, maybe not because reservations at Broadway Bar are already booked through the month of December. Sitting at the bar is first come first served, but the tables are all reserved.

So, now what? The Broadway is so popular, that they're trying to decide on whether to leave the decorations up year-round.