General Wood Shop

One of the safest spaces in town, hands down!

I feel safe and welcome here as a feminine queer person, which is not something I can say for any of the other queer bars in GR.

All of the staff are wonderful, and very knowledgeable. If you’re unsure of what to order, they are always happy to custom make a drink for you. Drinks and food always come out quickly, even on the busy weekends.

I also really appreciate that NA/mocktails are a big part of their offerings! They have many different NA spirits, as well as NA cans and bottles. I don’t always drink, so it’s nice to be able to come here and have something I can enjoy without alcohol in it.

The food here is amazing! The bao bun trio is my favorite. Their fries are hand cut and sooooo good with the truffle aioli on top! Their churros and cheesecake wontons are fantastic too.

It’s so clean inside, the bathrooms are always clean and stocked… which feels like a rarity for bars on bridge street. The bar itself is well decorated and has very cozy intimate vibes.

I can’t wait for their patio seating! I plan to enjoy that all summer long :)

Overall, this is a wonderful space and a lovely addition to this community.

I went for the first time on a Thursday night and it was such a great atmosphere and chill vibe. Kali was super helpful and friendly. The food was delicious! Highly recommend the bao buns, the cream cheese wontons, and the cheesecake wontons! The drinks were exceptionally delicious! Definitely coming back!

Yup…try this place.
Small gem (bar/small dining) on Bridge just on outskirts of downtown GR. Simple yet elegant choices for food & cocktails making the experience much more pleasant (not “too many” options). They execute those fewer options very well.

Vibes/atmosphere great, service was good, cocktails & food we tried were delightful! Party tried the Bao Combo (picking the Panko Chicken, Pork Belly, & Barbacoa). All three did not disappoint; full of flavor. Those were paired with the fries topped with Truffle Mayo (thinner & crispy with skin, seasoned well).
Cocktails we tried was Stiffler’s Mom and Let’s Smash (both beautifully presented and tasted great). Reasonably priced for the area and quality of items/experience.
If you’re looking for a new spot to enjoy - this did not disappoint. (I would love to go for Brunch - looks so fun!!!)

Fantastic place to gather with your friends! Drinks and food were amazing! 10/10 Highly recommend

My friends and I came here after the Tina Turner Musical. Creative cocktails and food that are unique and incredibly tasty! For drinks, we tried PVDP, morning wood, let’s smash and Femme Fatale (special cocktail this month). For food, highly recommend the ramen burger and Bao. Fries and chips+guac were delicious. Staff were very attentive and the atmosphere was wonderful. Looking forward to visit again!!!

I had an absolutely fantastic time at General Wood Shop, the new LGBTQ+ bar in west side GR! The cocktails and mocktails were not only delicious but also unique, clearly showing the thought and care put into crafting them. The panko chicken bao was tender and the bao itself was delightfully soft. And those fries with truffle Mayo were simply scrumptious!

What truly made the experience stand out was the welcoming and accepting atmosphere. It was wonderful to be in a space where everyone felt comfortable and celebrated. I can't wait to return and create more cherished memories and experiences. General Wood Shop is definitely a must-visit spot! 🏳‍🌈

Visited with our sister Carmen and Sue her girlfriend on mother's day brunch. We truly enjoyed the performances and staff great services. The food and drinks were great. I would definitely go again when I visit Michigan but, it's time to head back home to chicago. I definitely recommend this place, so much fun

My partner and I stumbled upon General Wood Shop while visiting for work. I had the Let’s Smash and he had the PVDP. Amazing! Then we had the Ramen Burger and two Pablo chicken boa and a barbacoa boa. Everything was so so good. Like…..SO GOOD. The fries were perfect. It’s been over a month since visiting and I’m still thinking about this meal. Don’t question it, just go. You will not be disappointed!

Great new upscale cocktail bar with drink options for everyone including many with perfect innuendo names, come see for yourself.

They do not allow standing room which is nice and ensures it's not extremely packed, service was very quick. We came with a group of six and each tried a different cocktail.

I recommend the "Morning Wood" which is their version of an old fashioned. My fiance got their spicy margarita and it was VERY spicy, almost too much for her to drink, but I drank it and my tongue was on fire.

Looking forward to coming back and trying more drinks.

Ok, so this place right here... service, AMAZING!, atmosphere, AMAZING!, food, AMAZING!, Price, extremely affordable! This is a must try. I highly recommend the Ramen Burger and the Bean Flicker cocktail! I promise, you will not be upset.

I didn't have any food to rate. Their specialty drinks are good but, a bit pricey. Great wait staff. Comfortable leather cushioned bar chairs! It's a very nice meeting place for LGBTQ or just anybody.

The cheesecake wonton bites were decadent! The atmosphere is great! Sophisticated and flirty.
Fun drink names. I really liked that they had local LGBTQ+ magazine that had upcoming community events in the Midwest. Visibility matters.

Awesome new, very friendly gay bar in downtown Grand Rapids. Excellent cocktail options as well as food. I love the ramen burger and fries. Just incredible. The churros are delicious too!

I’m originally from GR but live out of state now. I was in town around Christmas time and wanted to check out a new bar- General Woodshop did not disappoint. Amazing cocktails, food, and service. Not only was the food delicious and unique, but the kitchen is open late as well (hard to find in GR). Very reasonably priced. I highly recommend for the food, drinks, and vibe

I love it here!!! I was surprised the first time that I came when they were new, that we had no wait. They greet you outside to check ID's and to let you in only if there is space. There was no table available for us, but there was room at the bar. We gladly accepted.
The bartenders were phenomenal - very attentive and helpful, made good drinks, obviouslyyyyy! I tired the PVPD and absolutely loved it. Very beautiful drink and very delicious. The drink names are fun and playful, and very fitting for the place.
I can't wait to come back for food. It looked good, and if it is as good as the drinks, I am sure I'll be impressed.
The atmosphere is great - I love all the neon going on, it is very lively and kind of gives club vibes, but it is a pretty small, intimate place. Overall, I'd recommend!!

Not my home bar, but the service was excellent. A bit pricey for a T&T at happy hours. Wasn't busy on the Wednesday @ 5:30. Will return with friends another day.

Mickey is an AMAZING bartender. Gave us great ideas and was super attentive, I can’t wait to be back when she is serving!!! First time visit and we will be back soon for sure.

We absolutely loved our first experience here! GR needs more queer bars, and Wood Shop does not disappoint! The staff are amazing and made us feel so at home. This will definitely be our regular spot to grab drinks! Excited to try the food menu next time, it looked awesome!

This bar is a ton of fun. I have loved every visit we have made here. I can not wait to return.

I really enjoy having a solid bay bar option in Grand Rapids that isn’t a club or dungeon vibe of a bar. The owners are super friendly, bar staff are really kind and knowledgeable and the cocktails are pretty good! I have tried all of the signature drinks and will say all are good - the thruple is pretty steep, and though it’s meant for 2-3 people, it’s not very strong. Everything else is amazing!