Downtown businesses feel Acrisure Amphitheater’s impact
Posted By: WoodTV.com on August 23, 2026. For more information, please click here to read the source article.
The Acrisure Amphitheater has been bringing some of music’s biggest names to its stage for three months, and local business owners said it’s bringing new business to downtown Grand Rapids.
It’s been a summer of sound in downtown Grand Rapids with the inaugural season for the amphitheater. Noise complaints, parking woes and curfew concerns took center stage early in the summer, but that hasn’t kept fans away from seeing their favorites perform, including 11-time Grammy Award winning artist Brandi Carlile who performed Sunday night, drawing out some debut guests.
Carlile was show three of nearly back-to-back concerts over a two-week stretch, the busiest schedule the amphitheater has booked since it opened. Shop owners said this summer’s lineup also had impact on the storefronts blocks away.
“I’ve noticed a lot more foot traffic, especially later in the afternoon. So I found myself on those show days staying open later. Also, having people come in, a lot of people from out of town, a lot of first time visitors who will come in just to get an outfit for the show. So it’s really special to have these pieces brought to, you know, a fun show that they’re going to,” said Janna Marris, owner of Zabhaz, a vintage thrift store on Division Avenue.
Marris said on days the amphitheater has a show, she’s had to schedule more staff and stay open later. She also said the influx of business is sometimes tied to headliners who inspire concert goers to dress in more throwback aesthetics.
“I sold a bunch of pieces to some girls going to the Hilary Duff concert, and I grew up watching Lizzie McGuire, so I was even able to pull the whole pieces. I had a whole rack full of pieces that I knew people were going to want to wear to that show,” Marris said.
Herm Baker, owner of Vertigo Music, also said certain headliners mean better business for his record shop.
“Typically the metal shows do the best. And even the classic rock titles or shows are pretty fine too,” Baker said.
But the economic impact reached beyond shops. Concertgoers heading to Sunday’s show said their opening act for the night was a quick bite downtown before gates opened. Others said the concert is just the beginning and they plan to keep the momentum going at local bars afterward.
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