Revisiting The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids’ Former Venue Turned To Rubble

Today, one of the things Grand Rapids is most known for is its lively music scene. There is no shortage of venues where you find yourself jumping up and down, from smaller ones like the Pyramid Scheme to sold-out shows at the Van Andel Arena, and soon the new Acrisure Amphitheatre.

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However, before these venues emerged, one venue carried the load as the premier place to see any musical act in West Michigan. This spot's storied past saw it soar throughout the 1980s and 1990s before competition and various issues at and around the venue led to a decline in its popularity, culminating in its sudden closure in 2018. It was subsequently demolished in 2023.

Club Eastbrook ➡️The Orbit Room

Located at 2525 Lake Eastbrook Blvd SE for over 30 years, Don Dorshimer opened the venue, known initially as Club Eastbrook, in 1988. Dorshimer owned and ran the venue for 25 years before passing away in 2013 at the age of 53. It is believed that the first show ever held at Club Eastbrook was a Kenny G show on August 9th.

READ MORE: The Unfortunate Demise Of ‘Shout!’, Grand Rapids’ Hottest Club

Most remember going to the venue after it rebranded as The Orbit Room in 1993. While the venue's capacity changed via renovations over the years, it settled on a capacity of 1,700, comprising 500 movie theater-style seats upstairs, VIP seating on the side that accommodated 75 people, and a main dance floor that could fit 1,300 people.

Some Of The Biggest Names Played Here

While the venue itself was, as one user on Reddit put it, "sketchy and not great," the Orbit Room hosted some of the biggest names in music, either at the act's peak or before they were touring stadiums.

According to the concert database, here are just a few of the biggest names to make their way through the Orbit Room: Green Day, Mac Miller, Deftones, Chevelle, Linkin Park, Mazzy Star, John Mellencamp, Oasis, Marilyn Manson, Third Eye Blind, Creed, Megadeth, Kid Rock, Vanilla Ice, Slipknot, Nickelback, Queens of the Stone Age, Evanescence, Disturbed, Coheed & Cambria, Five Finger Death Punch, Twenty One Pilots, and My Chemical Romance (one of their last shows before their current reunion tour).

Many of these acts have returned in recent years to sold-out shows at the Van Andel Arena, GLC Live @ 20 Monroe, and more. You can see people reminisce about their memories and favorite acts at the Orbit Room here and here.

The Orbit Room Closes

As more venues in the area began to open, The Orbit Room struggled to keep up. Things signaled a turning point after the Dorshimer's passing in 2013, followed by the departure of longtime manager Tim Smith to Detroit. Even if these things hadn't happened, The Orbit Room faced mounting issues with the building itself and the people attending its shows.

Grand Rapids Fire Department Lt. William Smith forced the building to close shortly before New Year's Day 2018, citing "violations involving fire alarms, fire sprinkler systems, and operation of egress doors." On top of this, there was a spike in violence leading up to the building's closure.

This culminated in its closure and demolition in 2023. While the building is gone, its impact on West Michigan and its music scene will be remembered for years.