West Michigan Restaurants That Have Closed But We Still Miss

In Michigan alone, there are over 20,616 restaurants, meaning there are tons of options where you can go for a quick bite or an awkward first date. With this many restaurants, standing out and remaining competitive can be difficult. You have to have great staff, a welcoming environment, and stellar food. Still, those that do stay afloat tend to become fan favorites that people think about for years.

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But just because you have great food doesn't mean your doors will stay open. Even some of the most seemingly successful spots don't make it. But that doesn't mean we forget about them.

These days, it seems like every spot you love is closing, so we wanted to take a walk down memory lane and revisit the places that the residents of West Michigan still miss, far after they shut down.

Foodie GR's Question

The Foodie GR Facebook group recently posted the question,

"If you could bring back a local Michigan restaurant that is no longer in business, what would it be?"

and it had a huge response, with over 1,300 comments on the post. The answers spanned across generations of restaurants, but among those hundreds of comments, a few names repeatedly came up.

Mr Fables

Mr Fables closed its final restaurant in 2000, but people are still talking about it. So much so that there is a Facebook group with nearly 3000 members titled "I miss Mr. Fables." The restaurant's signature burger, the Mr. Fabulous Burger, recently returned from the dead thanks to SILVA collecting and featuring a variety of classic meals from old restaurants.

Bill Knapp's

Initially based in Battle Creek, the restaurant and bakery combo grew to  69 locations at its peak across multiple states before filing for bankruptcy in 2002. It was known for its birthday discounts. Though the restaurants are closed, many of its baked goods are still available at the Bill Knapp's bakery in Ann Arbor.

Marie Catrib's

Marie Catrib's started in the tip of the Upper Peninsula before settling in Grand Rapids, where it was an instant success, helping revitalize the neighborhood it was stationed in. Marie Catrib's opened in 2006, serving Mediterranean and American food, as well as being known for its inclusive dietary options. 

After Marie tragically passed away from cancer in 2013 and co-owner Moussa passed in 2015, sole owner Fouad struggled to keep things afloat on his own and closed the restaurant in 2018. There is reportedly a cookbook in the works to share Marie's recipes with the public, as well as offerings at Martha's Vineyard and Art of the Table.

Schnitzelbank

One of the oldest establishments in Grand Rapids, before being torn down in 2006, the Schnitzelbank started serving beloved German cuisine in traditional German attire back in 1936. The restaurant ran for over three generations before it was demolished to make room for a parking lot for Mary Free Bed. The restaurant was adorned with authentic, hand-drawn paintings that, unfortunately, were not saved from demolition.

While the original restaurant may be gone, its spiritual successor, Schnitz Deli, is still alive and well at 1315 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.