This is a great street view in downtown Grand Rapids, and I'm guessing in the 1930s. Where is it? Any guesses?

It's looking north on Monroe Avenue and Lyon. The Pantlind Hotel is on the extreme left, with a bank across Lyon Street, and the rest of the entire block is GONE! Well, these building are gone, but time marches on and this block has changed quite a bit.

Google Street View
Google Street View
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It's now 2023 and the Pantlind Hotel is the Amway Grand Plaza. The bank across Lyon Street is now the Reserve Restaurant, with offices on the upper floors.

The rest of the block?

DE VOS PLACE CONVENTION CENTER

Google Street View
Google Street View
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Yes, it's the DeVos Place Convention Center with a three-football sized exhibition hall, the Steelcase Ballroom, meeting rooms and more.

DE VOS PERFORMANCE HALL

Google Street View
Google Street View
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DeVos Performance Hall is home to the Grand Rapids Symphony, Broadway Grand Rapids with the best of Broadway's touring shows, Grand Rapids Ballet and Opera Grand Rapids among many other performers and shows.

Before DeVos Place, it was a smaller convention center, The Grand Center. Remember? There were two conventions halls, one on the first level and connected to the Welsh Civic Auditorium, with a second hall in the lower level.

Google Street View
Google Street View
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Time marches on for sure.

Oh, by-the-way, did you notice the cupola, the round turret-like thing in the center of the original picture?

It was actually saved for it's historic value, and made into a phone booth on the corner of Pearl and Monroe, Campau Square, in front of the McKay Tower. Remember that?

Jim Reminga/Facebook
Jim Reminga/Facebook
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It was there for awhile when Monroe Center was developed, but alas, we don't need these anymore, do we? Speculation is this historic cupola ended up in someone's back yard, but nobody really knows. Hmmm, this is the next GR mystery!

 

MORE: Some Fun Photos From Michigan's Past

 

 

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