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Anyone who has visited Ada township has seen the little red schoolhouse on River Street. The building served as a typical one-room country school for youth for over 100 years, until its closure in 1964.

It then was purchased and transformed into an ice cream shop and moved to its current location down by Thornapple River and Legacy Park. While it had a quick transformation in identity as a flower shop in the late 1990s until 2017. 

Since then, the beloved and historic little red schoolhouse recovered some of its roots to become what it is today, the Ada Village General Store – the home to Grand Rapids Triathlon’s newest 2021 community sponsor.

The location of this iconic landmark makes it the perfect destination for a triathlete’s training “pit stop”. 

With race weekend only months away and the warmer Michigan weather deciding to stay, triathletes can take advantage of getting training blocks near the actual course they will race in June. A hot cup of delicious and local Madcap coffee is waiting to be served for the early-rise runners or for those needing a quick rest, recharge and caffeine fix to break up the long bike ride. 

Ice cream and donuts are also two of the Store’s must-have treats, making it a must-stop place for the whole family, especially for the family members waiting around for the triathlete in their life to finish their half-distance triathlon training session. 

“The Ada Village General Store is excited to be partnered with GR Tri! We will be cheering every triathlete on every step of the way,” said Jen Welles of the Ada Village General Store. “We look forward to seeing race weekend, especially after missing all the triathletes last year in this area. The year is better with GR Tri’s return!”

The Ada Village General Store also sells and supports local gifts and goods from vendors in the West Michigan community.

This spring, the Store will also be selling Grand Rapids Triathlon merchandise before race weekend – even more reasons to pay them a visit! 

For more information on the Ada Village General Store please visit: https://www.theavgs.com/