The largest neighborhood in Grand Rapids, Creston is a thriving town of its own, alive with restaurants, stores, and living spaces coming and going, and a new energy attracting new people. Creston’s Coffee shops reflect this energy, providing an escape from the hustle of downtown and Grand Valley State University, while keeping North Grand Rapids well caffeinated.
Sparrows Coffee Tea & Newsstand
Sparrows Coffee Tea & Newsstand opened following the rebrand of its sister shop, now known as The Scorpion Hearts Club, which continues to serve Wealthy Street. To read more about the inspiring story behind the transformation, see: The Bradbury and Scorpion Hearts Club: Wealthy Street Brews and Eastown Culture
In 2016, Sparrows Coffee began roasting its own coffee beans sourced from Colombia (through partnerships with The Joven and Coffee for Peace), with a number of popular blends filling the cups of coffee-lovers all over Grand Rapids. Some popular blends include the All Seasons Blend, a breakfast blend with additional notes of apple, honey, and lavender, the Joven Colombia Calcua, with flavors of marmalade, violet, citrus, and chocolate, and the H.O.M.E.S. Blend, a dark roast with notes of toffee and dark chocolate.
The dining room of the coffee shop is open and airy, with two tall arches under twinkle lights and charming pink stools that characterize the space. The expansive flavors in coffee beans make up the traditional menu at Sparrows Coffee. The baked goods at the coffee shop set it apart, with the front counter and social media laden with flavor-drizzled scones, fruit bars, and muffins.
Nearing the center of Creston, Quickwater Coffee Roasters is within walking distance of all the neighborhood has to offer. The Creston location is one of three Quickwater locations around Grand Rapids, and like Sparrows, roast their own coffee beans. The espresso blend, the Deep Current, and the all-day blend, the Dayspring, are two of the most popular.
Opening their first successful shop in Rockford in 2022, the Creston location opened on Plainfield in early 2025. The coffee shop is classically white, with light leather couches and stools lining the windows that overlook the bustling Plainfield. A few plants bring life to the open space, plus a mural on the principal wall showing a flowing river lined by tree stumps and wilderness.
At Quickwater, the menu centers on custom-blended, house-roasted coffee and espresso, alongside whole-leaf teas and creative specialty drinks. In 2024, an in-house baker joined the mix, introducing a rotation of fresh pastries.
Brewing North
Creston’s coffee scene embodies the neighborhood’s creative and ever-evolving spirit. From Sparrows’ soft-lit arches and local-roasted blends to Quickwater’s bright space and house-baked pastries, each coffee house adds its own note to North Grand Rapids. Whether you’re a longtime resident or venturing north for the first time, Creston offers a perfect corner to settle in and watch the neighborhood continue to grow.
Brews on the Lakeshore 
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