The Kindel Room sits inside the old Kindel Furniture building on Grand Rapids’ west side, and you can still feel that history in the wood beams and brick walls. For couples planning with access in mind, the big draw is simpler: one large, level hardwood room that can hold your ceremony and your reception, so guests aren’t moving between spaces all day.
We walked through the Kindel Room with a camera and an eye for the things that make a day easier or harder for disabled guests: where people park, how they get through the door, how far the restrooms are, and where someone can step away to rest. Here’s what we found, plus the details we couldn’t confirm.
We visited in winter, and a little snow and salt covered a few outdoor details, like the curb cuts. Fall photos from Kara Hanes Photography helped fill in the entrance and restrooms, but those outdoor details are still worth checking with The Goei Center.
Cover, reception and restroom-sign photos: Kara Hanes Photography. All other photos and videos: Hopelynd. Videos have no sound and are here for visual reference only.
About the Kindel Room
The Kindel Room is part of The Goei Center at 818 Butterworth SW in Grand Rapids. It sits inside the historic Kindel Furniture building, on the same property as The Goei Center’s main hall, and has its own entrance. According to The Goei Center, the room holds up to 200 guests and can be set up for a ceremony, a reception, or both.
Inside, you’ll find wood beams, brick walls and a wide-open hardwood floor, plus getting-ready suites and a bar near the entrance. Capacities and setup options can change, so confirm current details with The Goei Center.
What’s Available
Below, we’ve broken the Kindel Room down area by area. We’re photographers and advocates, not building inspectors, so anything we couldn’t see comes with a list of questions to bring to the venue.
Mobility & Physical Access
What we found: The main room has a wide-open, level hardwood floor, with wood support posts spaced through the room. Set up for a ceremony, there was a wide center aisle between the rows of chairs. Everything is on one level: the main room, the getting-ready suites and the restrooms are all on the same floor.
The Kindel Room entrance is a set of glass double doors under a covered overhang. The doors sit on a raised concrete landing that looks to be one step up from the sidewalk, with a handrail beside it. The edge of the landing is painted white, which helps the step stand out. The front doors don’t have automatic openers, so they open by hand. There is a ramp with handrails, but it isn’t at these front doors. It’s toward the back of the entrance area, near the kitchen, so guests who need step-free access will likely come in a different way than everyone else.
The getting-ready suite and lounge we saw have hardwood floors, with area rugs under the seating.
Questions to ask the venue:
- Where is the ramp entrance, and if someone needs ramp access, where do they come in? The ramp is near the back of the entrance by the kitchen, so ask how guests reach it from parking and whether the door there is open and staffed during your event.
- Is there a lower section of the bar for guests who use wheelchairs?
Parking & Drop-off
What we found: At least two accessible parking spaces, with striped access aisles, are right in front of the Kindel Room entrance. Snow and salt made it hard to tell whether there is a curb cut from the access aisles onto the sidewalk.
Questions to ask the venue:
- How many accessible parking spaces are there across the property?
- Is there a curb cut from the accessible spaces onto the sidewalk?
- Is there a covered drop-off spot near the door?
Restrooms
What we found: The restrooms are reached through a wide, open doorway next to the bar, right off the main room, with no door to open. Signs above the doorway show the accessibility symbol, with arrows to restrooms on the left and right. The restroom we saw has a stall with grab bars beside and behind the toilet, and a wider stall door at the end of the row. The sink counters are open underneath, which leaves room for a wheelchair to pull up. When you plan your layout, keep the area in front of the restroom doorway clear of tables, displays and decor, so guests can get to the restrooms easily and the path stays open as an exit route.
Questions to ask the venue:
- Is there a single-user or companion restroom where a caregiver can assist?
- Are there accessible stalls in every restroom?
Sensory Considerations
What we found: The main room has high ceilings, wood beams and hard floors, so sound may carry when the room is full. The lounge and getting-ready suite, with sofas and smaller rooms, could work as quiet spaces to step away.
Questions to ask the venue:
- Can one of the suites be reserved as a quiet room during the event?
- Can the lighting in the main room be dimmed or adjusted?
Caregiver & Companion Needs
What we found: The getting-ready suite has a long table with chairs that can be moved aside, sofas and space to spread out, which gives a support person room to help someone get ready.
Questions to ask the venue:
- Can a caregiver or support person join the couple in the getting-ready suite?
- Is there a private room where a guest can rest or receive care during the event?
- Can we plan seating near exits and restrooms for guests who need it?
Communication & Signage
What we found: The entrance doors are clearly marked “Kindel Room,” which helps guests find the right door on a property with two venues. We didn’t document other signage on our visit, so please ask the venue.
Questions to ask the venue:
- Do restroom and room signs include braille?
- If we have a guest who is blind or has low vision, can your team help orient them when they arrive?
Who Is This Venue Best Suited For in Accessibility?
For guests, the Kindel Room’s open, level main room, accessible parking right by the door and accessible restroom features make it a welcoming option for wheelchair users and guests who use mobility aids, once you’ve confirmed the step-free route to the doors.
For couples and wedding parties, having the ceremony and reception in one room means less moving around for everyone, and the getting-ready suites are on site. Ask the venue to walk you through the full day, from parking to the suites to the dance floor.
Best suited for: Guests who use wheelchairs · Guests who use mobility aids · Couples who want the ceremony and reception in one room · Weddings of up to 200 guests
Worth discussing with the venue: Where guests who need the ramp come in (it’s near the kitchen, not the front doors) · Help with the front doors, which open by hand · A companion restroom · A quiet space during the event
A Note from Hopelynd
What stood out to us at the Kindel Room was how much can happen in one room. When the ceremony and reception share a level floor, guests spend less of the day getting from place to place, and that matters for anyone who tires easily or uses a mobility aid.
The Kindel Room is a warm, open space where a lot of what matters for access is already in place, from parking at the door to grab bars in the restroom. The route into the building is the main thing to confirm with the venue, and we always recommend that step, for any venue.
The entrance is the piece we’d ask about first. Once you know how a guest using a wheelchair gets from the parking spot through those front doors, the rest of the room is easy to plan around.
If you’re planning a wedding and want a photographer who genuinely understands accessibility, who will prepare for your needs, ask the right questions, and make sure no one in your family is left out of the frame, we’d love to work with you. You can see how we prepare for sessions here.
If you are part of the disability community and have visited the Kindel Room or any venue we have reviewed, we want to hear from you. Your firsthand experience helps us give future couples the most complete picture possible. Reach out to us at info@hopelynd.com.
Looking for more venues? Browse all of our Accessible Places guides, including our reviews of the Downtown Market and the Ballroom at McKay Tower.
