Do You Remember Grand Rapids Tea Garden Restaurant on North Division?

So many restaurants have come and gone over time in Grand Rapids. It's always fun to fondly remember places we used to go that were special to us at the time that have long past. One of those memories is the Tea Garden.

The Tea Garden Chinese Restaurant was a special, authentic place. Whether you were there for a special occasion, which is why many people were, or just a casual drop in, you always found the food and service excellent, and it always made you want to come back again and again.

The Won Ton soup and egg rolls were outstanding just to name a couple of things.

The Tea Garden was originally on South Division for many years before moving to North Division for a larger space.

Check out the interior which was narrow and long. They had formica tables and chrome chairs that are against each wall, and a another line runs down the middle of the room. Notice the lantern style lights that hang from the ceiling.

The new North Division location was certainly an upgrade, and could handle many more people.

There was a big wicker swing that you could sit in and order drinks. Too much swinging got more that a few a little sick. Not a good idea.

Back then the legal drinking age was 18-years of age. Lot's of parents would take the now "legal" teen in for their first drink, or so they thought. At any rate, many folks remember the pineapple rum drinks served in a real pineapple. They thought they were too cool for words.

Alas, all things change and business at the Tea Garden fell off and closed. If memory serves me correctly, didn't the spot eventually become a bar called Magoo's?

If so Magoo's lasted for awhile but now the old Tea Garden and Magoo's location sadly sits empty.

It's always fun to remember the "good old days."