The Mitten Brewing Company Spotlight: Grand Rapids, Michigan

The Mitten Brewing Company turned a 1905 fire station on Grand Rapids’ west side into one of the most distinctive craft beer destinations in the city. The baseball theme runs through everything from the tap handle names to the artwork on the walls, creating an atmosphere that feels celebratory without being loud about it.

Located at 527 Leonard St NW in Grand Rapids, The Mitten opened in 2012 and quickly established itself as a neighborhood anchor on the city’s west side. The building itself is part of the draw: original brick, high ceilings, and the bones of a century-old firehouse that gives the space character no new construction can replicate.

The beer lineup covers a wide range of styles with names pulled from baseball history and Michigan sporting culture. The wood-fired pizza is consistently excellent, made with quality ingredients and the kind of attention that makes it stand alongside the beer rather than playing second fiddle to it. The combination of great beer, great pizza, and a genuinely beautiful space is what keeps the dining room busy on weeknights and packed on weekends.

The patio and beer garden extend the experience into the warmer months, with views of the Leonard Street neighborhood and enough space to breathe. The Mitten has become a gathering place for the west side community, the kind of business that roots itself in a neighborhood and grows with it.

Visit at mittenbrewing.com on Leonard Street NW in Grand Rapids.

Michigan Small Business Spotlight is proud to feature The Mitten Brewing Company as one of West Michigan’s most beloved and community-focused craft businesses.