Woosah Outfitters on Wealthy Street to Close After a Decade

Another longtime Wealthy Street business is preparing to say goodbye.

After 11 years in Grand Rapids, Woosah Outfitters has officially announced its closing date. Owner Rae Lang first shared plans to close the shop back in February 2025, and now we know the final day will be March 14.

If you have spent any time on Wealthy Street over the last decade, you likely know Woosah. The shop built a loyal following for its handmade goods and thoughtfully designed outdoor gear. “Woosah” is slang for that feeling of calm in the middle of chaos, a reminder to take a breath, and that spirit was always part of the store’s culture.

Lang has said that opening the store was a simple dream that brought her a lot of joy. It gave her a place to carve, print and share the process behind the goods with customers who stopped in.

For six and a half years, the shop operated next door to Outside Coffee Co., the outdoor cafe also owned by Lang. That space became a community gathering spot in its own right before closing on October 2, 2024. At the time, Lang hinted that something ‘new and exciting’ is planned for the cafe storefront and garden space, though no details have been announced yet.

Woosah’s closure comes during a period of change for Wealthy Street. In recent months, the corridor has seen several businesses shut their doors, including Tex-Mex restaurant Asada which was just down the street. For many in the neighborhood, it has been tough to see familiar storefronts go dark.

The Grand Rapids Woosah location will remain open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm until March 14th. After that, they will continue operating Woosah’s shop in Douglas, which remains open year round.

More than ten years is a long run for any small business, especially in a neighborhood that has evolved as much as Wealthy Street has. As Woosah prepares to close its Grand Rapids chapter, it feels less like an abrupt ending and more like the close of a well lived season.

And if the name is any indication, maybe it is also a reminder to take a breath and see what comes next.