Lakers and community members gathered on March 22 to celebrate the grand opening of the new Laker Store in the Grand Rapids Art Museum in downtown Grand Rapids.
The Laker Dance Team and Louie the Laker joined the gathering at the new location, which overlooks Rosa Parks Circle and aims to expand GVSU’s presence in Grand Rapids while contributing to the community by enhancing the retail space on Monroe Center.
“Grand Valley students and alumni animate the city of Grand Rapids,” said President Philomena V. Mantella. “This location, right in the heart of downtown, is literally and figuratively at the center of so much that takes place in Grand Rapids.
“It is much more than just a merchandise store. We have plans to make this a place for entry and access to all things GVSU. We will activate the space, just as our students do every evening downtown.”
Community leaders who spoke at the event welcomed the opportunity to bring new energy and patrons to this central area of downtown.
“We’ve put a lot of effort into the creation and growth of Rosa Parks Circle and the space around it,” said Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss. “GVSU is a perfect choice to help this area become an even more popular place to gather, learn and celebrate.”
Also at the ribbon cutting were representatives from the GVSU Admissions Office, who were ready to fulfill that promise of making the storefront more than just a place to sell merchandise. They were fielding questions about GVSU admittance, and will have a presence in the downtown location in the future.
The Laker Store on Monroe will be open four days a week. The hours are:
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