This Convenience Store In Grand Rapids Isn’t What You Think

When I was a kid, I was a massive fan of Adam West's Batman from the 1960s. To describe the show in one word: goofy. But in a good way. For me, the coolest part about it was how Batman had a secret entrance to the Bat-Pole hidden inside a bust nearby. Lifting the bust's head revealed a button that, when pressed, slid a bookshelf away to reveal the entrance to the Batcave.

This sort of secrecy always excited me, the idea of something that was hidden in plain sight. So when I learned that Grand Rapids has a convenience store that is hiding a "Batcave" of its own, I had to check it out.

434 Leonard St.

If you were to walk past 434 Leonard St., you would see an unmarked building that looks like a convenience store called Double C Convenience. 

Upon entering the store, it is exactly what you would think it is. A store full of your usual gas station goodies, canned foods, and at-home essentials like laundry detergent and jugs of water. However, you'll quickly notice that this store has no cashier.

READ MORE: This Grand Rapids Video Store Is Bringing Back ’90s Movie Nights

Guests with a trained eye will notice two quarters on the ground, as well as a dollar bill (a bill with John Travolta on it).

This is a subtle hint to check out the Pepsi machine nearby that has Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Lemon Lime, Copper Coin, and Orange. If one of those doesn't sound familiar, then you'd be correct, because pressing the Copper Coin button doesn't supply you with a fizzy drink; instead, it reveals a secret doorway to the Copper Coin Tattoo Parlour.

This is known as a Murphy Door, a type of secret door that was popularized during the Prohibition Era of the 1920s. These doors were used to hide illegal speakeasies (bars) and were hidden in plain sight to limit access to the illicit activities behind them.

Copper Coin Tattoo Parlour

In this case, the door instead hides a beautiful tattoo parlour called the Copper Coin, which opened in 2023. It is known for its realism, black work, cover-ups, color work, American Traditional, and custom pieces. All six artists are very talented (my friend who came with had gotten two leg tattoos done here).

You can check out the tattoo studio for yourself Monday-Saturday, noon - 8 PM, at

436 Leonard St NW #101
Behind the Pepsi machine
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

A tattoo is all about style, and when you can enter a place in style and then sit inside a gorgeous, classically designed studio while getting your piece done, it's a win all around.