Came for the most amazing performance by comedian, Alok! The Pyramid Scheme is a fun retro take on a dive bar known for their great shows, pinball machines and (somewhat) reasonably priced drinks. The staff may seem rough on the outer edges, but they are all actually teddy bears once you get to know them. Usually shows are standing room only, which is a drag if you are old like me and opt not to wear orthotics. Luckily, the 9 pm encore show was seated. My old bones appreciated this. Now look below as I'm fangirling in the attached photos! I absolutely adore Alok and their courage to humorously challenge the gender binary and systematically poke holes in the patriarchal system that comprises The USA. read more

The Pyramid Scheme - Autographed Merch $30 - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

See all

i have been attending the Pyramid Scheme for years now. I absolutely love all of the staff and they really become like friends and family after constantly seeing them when attending shows. The lineups are often pretty diverse, now offering more local music and the addition of more free events to bring together the community. They've added vintage nights, trivia, and free pinball days which I think is a very important and necessary community good. The venue has a front half with a bar, pinball cabinets, and even some outdoor seating. The back hosts the concert venue with interior bar, seating, and elevated stage. I'm allergic to alcohol so I can't speak to the drinks nor the prices but they have free water jugs readily available which is a lifesaver during shows and is just such a small, nice feature to have access to. I definitely would recommend coming here for a concert, finding some new local music, or establishing a new hang out for your friends. read more

See all

The Pyramid Scheme always used to be my go-to spot for live music. I haven't seen many concerts here recently, but still like to pop in for a drink every once in awhile or even a random $15 show sometimes. The staff here is not always the friendliest and they kind of give off a punk rock sort of vibe, but the drinks are cheap (especially for downtown) and they often have a seltzer on tap that I like. They're known for the many pinball games but I'm not into pinball, so I can't comment on those. You can buy artwork and funny t-shirts at Pyramid Scheme. They don't serve any food but you can bring food in. Two Beards across the street is a great option for this. The music venue is in the back, and it's pretty small. There are very limited seats, so if you want to sit be sure to get there when the doors open. I can usually get a spot to stand up near the bar, which is nice for short people. The bar lines in the venue can be long, but they move pretty quickly for the most part. They always have a water jug out which I really appreciate. It's not a regular spot for me anymore, but it's good for a quick drink or a show. read more

See all

The Pyramid Scheme is such a fun spot to add to anyone's night out in Grand Rapids. The bar itself gives off dive bar vibes but with a fun twist - they have all the pinball machines you could imagine! I hesitate to say it is retro, because that would be aging me. But playing the games gives me a nostalgic feeling. Bring cash to play the games! I believe The Pyramid Scheme also has live music/concerts too! I have not ordered food here, so I cannot comment on that. The drinks are standard, and the bartenders are all excellent. Also, if you visit the space late at night, make sure you are of age because they will card at the door. If I were to voice a complaint on the space, it would be on the bathroom situation. I'll just say it's a typical dive bar bathroom. Still I give this spot a 5/5 stars on Yelp and will continue to visit! read more

The Pyramid Scheme - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

This place has tremendous potential, however, the place is a disaster. The pinball machines were poorly maintained and a majority didn't work properly. I had paddles not function, the ball getting stuck on damaged ramps, money taken and no credit applied. If you are looking to get blacked out and treated as an inconvenience, this is the place. Terrible drinks and service. The floors looked like they haven't been mopped in years. The Pyramid Scheme, an absolute perfect name. Cheers for being to cool for your patrons! read more

The Pyramid Scheme - Nasty floor - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Came here for the first time last month to see some friends who were playing here and we had a great time. The venue was a "vaccination required" spot so we flashed our cards along with everyone else when we got there and it was easy peasy and good to know we were a little safer being in a larger crowd. It's a small to mid-sized venue so the stage isn't huge but it means getting up close to the band, which rules. The sound was solid and there's a small riser around the perimeter with seating and more elevated standing for folks who want a little more lift to their view. Beer selection was really good, the pinball machines in the front part of the bar (seperate from the venue in the back) were really fun too. I didn't play a game but they had a great variety. Between here and Stella's across the street this stretch is a pinballers paradise! Highly recommend checking out a show here if you can! read more

See all

LOTS of pinball and interesting objects on the wall. Just grabbed a beer and everyone had the same idea as we did so it was busy as everyone was at bar. We only stayed a moment and I enjoyed looking around. read more

The Pyramid Scheme - Rawr! Above pinball machines - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

See all

OMG 1T'S THE 1LLUM1NÂT1 Some things in life are just worth going out of your way for. Time, money, effort.....it's often a roll of the dice if the venue will live up to your expectations. In the case of The Pyramid Schemei, they took my expectations, placed a block of C-4 in it, then proceeded to blow them to kingdom come. Knowing that I was going to be spending the weekend in Muskgeon at Michigan's Adventure, I veered east about 35 minutes to Grand Rapids after seeing a large purple dot on Pinsider, indicating a large pinball population in the area. Sure enough, I arrived just after opening (4pm on a Sunday) and what I saw before me was pure pinball nirvana. Games were aligned in 3 rows of 8 and included brand new models as well as ones from the 80's and 90's in excellent condition. They even had a custom AC/DC pinball with an ultra limited edition 'Whole Lotta Rosie' backglass, the 1st I've ever seen. All tables were 50¢, except for Wizard of Oz and The Hobbit, which were 75¢. I encountered a few issues with coin slots on a handful of tables (damn things ate mah quarter!!) but the bartender was kind enough to reimburse me for my loss. He had a great demeanor and spent enough time talking to me where I felt like a valued patron. Lots of beers on tap, in cans, and in bottles. Local stuff from the Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo area, imports, domestics, you name it. I tried two new beers, notably a Celestial Critter Belgian pale ale with a modest 6.4% ABV. That sh*t was delicious. No food menu, however, so if you're experiencing hunger pains I'd recommend Stella's right across the street. It was here where I purchased quite possibly the coolest T-shirt in the history of EVER for something like $15: it's a profile/shadow view of the Alien queen (the one Ripley faces off against from the movie 'Aliens') playing a space-themed pinball. It's simply too awesome for words.....you'll just have to see me modeling it on the streets of Chicago. Pyramid Schemei is run/owned by a pinball fanatic, which came as no surprise to me. Every table I played was in superb shape and on more than a few games I kicked way more butt than normal. I'm told they host pinball tournaments periodically during the year. If you ever find yourself in the Grand Rapids area and consider yourself an appreciator of the art of the silver ball, then you owe it to yourself to stop by and give these dudes your toll money. read more

See all

I'm think I'm going to remember this place forever because we stayed at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and coincidentally attended a show at The Pyramid Scheme. Since we've never stayed in GR before, I'm not familiar with this venue, but based on the groups that were playing, I assumed it was a smaller/darker bar that has a back room for concerts. I don't know if they do it for every show, but they sell a shot and a beer together for $6. Obviously well liquor, but that's a heck of a good deal! I also liked the set up of the "concert hall" with the 2 sides that are raised up and people can choose to sit at their tables or stand at the railings to cheer on the awesome acts that come through. Since it's not that big of a venue and we weren't there to watch some smooth jazz show, I can't comment on how the acoustics would've been if it wasn't a hard rock show. All in all, I would definitely go back for another show there. read more

Bartender(s) are volatile, emotional and ready to escalate situations. Good luck kicking every customer out when they hurt your feelings.

Loved playing the games... this area is just not my vibe when it comes to going out. It tends to be younger and sloppy.

They won't accept a negative Covid test in place of proof of vaccination. People who are unable to get vaccinated for medical reason or just want to exercise their personal freedom are refused service. Very disappointing. read more

I enjoy the Pyramid Scheme primarily because of their euchre tournaments. They are always accommodating and have great tables and cards for the game. The bartenders do their best, sometimes the bar is busy so it occasionally takes awhile. The pinball machines are so fun and such a unique concept. This is the trademark of Pyramid Scheme and it's nice that they do free pinball Sundays. The overall vibe of the bar is a bit goth/hard rock and they have some great concerts (mostly metal bands) and some comedy skits too if that's what you're into. I criticize them for not offering straws (not even a plastic alternative of some kind) And I dislike that the bathrooms are always vandalized with graffiti. I prefer bars that have a bit more upbeat vibe. It should be noted they do not have TV's (You can't watch sports here) However the establishment is always clean and the people are friendly and nice. read more

Cool place to come hangout. The pinball machines all take quarters and they have a nice variety to play on. Was pretty popular when we came

Favorite stop in GR. Great beer selection, friendly staff, cool games and atmosphere. Awesome art. Would be a regular if I lived there.

I was visiting a friend in Grand Rapids and stopped by The Pyramid Scheme to get a few pinball games in. This place was so fun! I've been to several arcade bars and this one is one of the cheaper ones I've been to. Since this was the last stop of the night, I skipped out on a drink and came just to play. There was a concert going on in the back venue, but lucky for us the front half of the place was open and almost all the pinball machines were available. The bartenders were quick to exchange a $10 for some singles so I could get easy change in the change machine. Games are either 50 to 75 cents for 3 balls - super affordable! Plus most games will give you an extra ball when you hit a certain score. There are some machines that even will have two balls going at once! I do wish there were more types of games here, but who doesn't love a good pinball machine?! I'd definitely come here again the next time I visit - I better practice my pinball skills before them! read more

My girlfriend and I decided to stop by for a drink and a few games of pinball. Almost immediately we were put off by the demeanor of the bartender. When he asked for our ids we complied and handed them over. In a playful way I asked to see his in exchange and he didn't think it was funny at all. To his credit, it wasn't that funny. One could even argue that it was slightly rude but his response seemed to escalate things. He said since it was his bar he could do what he wanted and he didn't have to serve us if we didn't do as he asked. I didn't think anything of the interaction, quite honestly. We got our drinks and went to the machines. It wasn't until after we were refused service later on that I realized he was offended. When my girlfriend went to get a second pair of drinks she was told that she wouldn't be served because she was rude to the bartender. Despite the fact that it was me who made the joke, I don't think someone that fragile should be working in the service industry. I tried calling after we left to hopefully get a better understanding of the situation and to understand why my partner is crying over something I did. As it turns out, The Pyramid Scheme does not accept phone calls and Im left wondering if it's because the staff doesn't have the self-esteem required to confront situations where the power dynamics aren't overwhelmingly in their favor. The beer was good, they support good causes, and the pinball games were fun when they worked. Sadly, the place is staffed by insecure employees who lash out at a nice young women for something her boyfriend said in jest. 2 stars so people don't think I'm being too unfair to the beer and pinball machines. read more

Front door person and waiter were awesome but we came to spend money on your pinball machines but the bar has some rule you have to stay at the same pinball machine the entire time. I guess they're too lazy to clean the machines between use. It wasn't even busy. read more

The Pyramid Scheme - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

They offer no food option, which is always a downfall for me. And the drinks were mediocre and on the stronger side. Just your typical dive bar, so the drinks are cheap so it's a great option to hang out with some friends. There's cool pinball machines, but they tend to swallow a lot of your quarters LOL. With covid you're pretty much restricted to one or two pin ball machines, which is a bummer because they have a lot of cool options. read more

This is always a great place to meet up with anyone of your friends or family. They serve alcohol, yet no food. But it is in very close walking distance to many restaurants for food if hungry. They typically always have a "specialty drink" on draft which is cool and fun. They have many pinball machines. Bring cash, they have a machine that will give you quarters. Love this place. Also a very cool venue on weekends with bands hidden in the back! read more

I love this dive bar a lot. Great scene in the front of the bar with pinball machines and in the back of the bar they have live music that is such a small venue it feels great to be close to the stage, I love it read more

Great live music venue with a 50's or 60's kinda vibe going thanks to the tiled floor and opaque glass lighting fixtures on the walls. Bartenders are friendly and make a great cocktail. The collection of pinball machines and classic video games make this place a throwback blast! Worth the drive if you're in the area! read more

The Pyramid Scheme - Great live venue! - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

This place is so awesome! If I lived in Grand Rapids, I'd be here all the time. Other reviews mentioned there were too many hipsters, but we were here on a Thursday night and there was a variety of different types of people. Everyone was really cool too, including the employees. We ended up staying till close and the bouncer/security guy started shutting down the machines but said he'd keep a few on if I wanted to play. I thought that was super cool. They have a ton of local beers which is great for a tourist like me that wanted to stick with local brews. We drank and played pinball for awhile. Overall, it was a really great night. I asked my husband if we could stay in GR one more night, just so we could hang at The Pyramid Scheme again. The Pyramid Scheme = my favorite part of Grand Rapids. Don't miss it if you visit! read more

The Pyramid Scheme - Pinball! - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I have yet to see a show here, but I love everything about what this place is doing and Ann Arbor is in sore, SORE need of a venue like this. A ton of Short's beer on tap, a line of old arcade games, a garage door that opens out onto the sidewalk, a totally nice bartender--just perfect. I sat here for a couple hours with a friend at about 5pm and it was great. I can't wait to catch a live act! read more

The Pyramid Scheme - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Went to Joe Hertler for the NYE show. Line was long going in cuz it was unclear which line was for the bar and which was for the venue. Seems oversold like you couldn't even move in the place. Long ass bar line. Only ONE BAR for some reason. Layout is terrible. Bartender was rude the first time I went up to get a beer, accusing me of cutting the line which I've never been there before so maybe I did on accident but in the time bartender was giving me a lecture about it when I couldn't ever hear her I could have already had my beer and been on my way. Second time up for a beer I paid, put my money back in my pocket and look up and no beer so either someone swiped it or they never gave it to me. So I ask for another beer like what's up wheres my beer. She gets all annoyed with me like it's my fault and insinuates that'll be my last drink. I finished it and left. Never been so disrespected by a bar staff in my life over absolutely nothing. Like it's that hard to take money and hand someone a beer. I went over to tin can and had a great time. What a waste of $40 for a ticket. I've seen Joe hertler many times and this was the only negative experience. Won't be back. I should try for a refund. That's how nonsense that night was. Like it was almost as if cuz it was NYE they were just looking for excuses to cut ppl off. Mind you all this happened while I was str8 sober. DO NOT GO HERE. RUDE. DISRESPECTFUL. read more

We stopped in for a drink before a concert. Nice, interesting place. Lots of pinball machines. Lots of local beer choices and Cider. Staff seemed pretty friendly. read more

The Pyramid Scheme - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Pinball machines are awesome! BUT not worth it. The bar gave off a pretentious vibe, like if you weren't a regular, you didn't really belong. Came in for the first time with a group, who was mostly from Chicago. One of my friends ordered a Guinness, the bartender kinda snickered at him and said they only have Michigan beers. He asked what's the closest to it, which he got a reply of "PBR"... which is no where close to a Guinness and also not a Michigan beer.... The bartender kinda got annoyed with us because we "weren't ready" and just walked away. Def not Returning. Pinball Machines were not worth the awkwardness that bar gives off. And kinda embarrassing for friends who are out of town to experience being laughed at a bar for ordering a normal beer that most bars have. Or a bartender who doesn't know where PBR comes from lol (Milwaukee, FYI) P.S. Some of the pinball machines take your quarters and don't start the game. Waste of money and super frustrating. read more

This bar is so entertaining. Who doesn't love pinball?! Also their beer selection was vast, lots of local options!

Super cool spot if you like pinball! They have TONS of pinball games and all different genres and themes. They have games from every era you can think of! It is incredibly easy to waste a few hours of your time here and feel like no time went by. I am truly embarrassed to say that my forearms were sore the next day after going here and playing pinball for hours. They also have a great list of unique beers to choose from and I believe they are always rotating. Super fun spot to grab a beer and kill an hour or two of time on a lazy afternoon! read more

My friends and I went there and the bouncer was super aggressive. He eventually told us to leave and we all got up to go, no one was arguing. As my friends back was turned the bouncer pushed him so hard that he fell. My group was shocked from the random violence and just tried to grab our friend and go. Three employees followed us out, yelling slurs against the LGBTQ and minority members of our group. They followed us almost an entire block and the entire experience was very uncomfortable. Several members felt very unsafe and none of us will be returning. read more

This was a fun place that we stumbled upon while exploring Grand Rapids. I love pinball so this was a great stop to have a beer and play a few games. The bartender had the personality of a poorly programmed bored and grumpy NPC, but otherwise a fun time. read more

This venue would be amazing if it weren't the size of my closet. Great drink prices, friendly staff, cool pattern on the floor, and most importantly the sound system was good. I read other reviewers complaining about sound, but I thought it was fine and I wasn't even that drunk... My only qualm was that I brought my hula-hoop with me with the intention to do some serious hoopage. I was able to get a few good minutes in but once again, this place was like the size of my gynecologists office. I kept hitting people because they were darting around like mad men, and felt bad and put the hoop down. A lot of potential and I would come back again sans hoop. read more

I hate to give this place one star, i really do, because if i were talking about the front bar only it would probably get 4 stars. I'm talking about the concert venue in the back, again, i wanted to like it, it sure looks like a great venue, but the sound was so incredibly bad they should be embarrassed to even host bands. I drove all the way from metro to Detroit to see Breathe Owl Breathe (folky band), you literally couldn't hear half of the bands instruments, it was like if you were in your car listening to your favorite song on half volume, then you turned your treble all the way down, and your bass all the way up, then turned your balance to once channel only. Everyone around me was bitching about how bad this show sounded, no one could here anything, when the band talked no one could understand them, The big speakers on both sides of the stage were not even on, i was standing right next to one of them, trust me nothing was coming out of them, for both bands. People were shushing each other, I've never been shushed at a concert before. I've been to the majestic, magic stick, to many times to count, can't recall that ever happening there... wonder why ... oh yeah because they now how to mix a proper show! THIS VENUE IS A JOKE. read more

Hurray! This is the perfect mid-sized venue. i love the separate bar up front, so if you're just coming for drinks you're not surprised by a mandatory cover to see an band. And boy howdy, those drinks are a good mix of Michigan beers and stiff cocktails. I enjoyed the cherry cider on tap perhaps a little too much - it was deceptively easy to keep drinking! I love the venue area. Higher ramps overlook the area right in front of the stage, so you can be aloof and standoffish and still get a good view (but even if you are front and center, native Midwestern politeness means your fellow show-goers give you plenty of room). The speakers are hung from the ceiling instead of piled near the stage, so your eardrums have a good time no matter where you stand. Best of all, I love that Pyramid Scheme means that Grand Rapids will be able to lure some of the smaller national acts that only hit Detroit or skip Michigan all together. read more

Came from Detroit to see Guided By Voices here and am so glad I did. I hope this venue brings in more great bands because it's my new favorite place to see a show. Holds about 450 (I think?), so it's small, but not too small. Two raised platforms on either side, which is perfect for a great view of the stage. As a Detroiter, I'm not too familiar with downtown G.R., but the area The Pyramid Scheme is in seems pretty trendy and popular, with lots of bars/nightclubs. Kind of overwhelming, but also cool to see so much going on. Definitely check out The Pyramid Scheme! read more

I have seen many of shows here and my most recent visit was for The Pyramid Scheme's 5th Anniversary Party with Andrew W K. It was another fun show in part because the venue is so small that there is not a bad view in the place. The lighting and sound were stellar and the energy was nuts. For those unfamiliar, The Pyramid Scheme is a hipster type bar and music venue that features local and nationally known bands, dj's, and shows. The venues name (I assume) is a reference to Grand Rapids' very own Amway Corporation, who has a somewhat tarnished reputation within the direct sales industry as being... well... a pyramid scheme. When you walk in, there is a main bar area that is open to all. There are tables, a well-stocked bar, and pinball machines. There is also a separate, back concert venue area for ticket holders. This concert space is primarily standing room only, although I have been here when they put seats out for some types of shows. The concert area has back bar area, but for a packed show like Andrew W. K, it was easier to leave the concert area and go back out to the main bar area for drinks. They have a fun selection of Pinball machines. I easily went through $10 playing the Jurrasic Park game last time I visited. My only gripe is with service on show nights; the serving staff, while very friendly, seem overwhelmed. I realize that's more of an issue with management scheduling enough people on, but as a customer, it can get frustrating trying to track down a server for a drink or my bill. That said if you stop by after a show has started and the crowd has thinned out, the service is great. read more

Awesome pinball bar with a cool punk-rock feel. My wife Sharon and I love to come here on the the weekends as it generally isn't as packed as most other downtown bars. If you're in the area I highly recommend a grabbing a drink or catching a show at The Pyramid Scheme! read more

Alright, I'm from Philadelphia so I don't know a ridiculous amount about this place but I spent about five hours there so I feel like I have the credentials to judge it. Why the Holy Hell does this place have so few reviews? According to the previous reviews it has been open since 2011! Let me begin (and yes, I'll call this a beginning) by talking about the incredible draft list. They keep a wide range of Michigan brews on tap at all times (from what I'm told they keep ten Shorts brews on at all times). All of their beer is incredibly reasonably priced and the service is incredibly efficient. The specials price the craft drafts down to 2.50, which is incredible. They also have a back room concert venue that is literally inaudible from the front when the doors are closed. Somehow I haven't mentioned the most amazing part... the divine array of pinball machines!! When I counted there were twenty one (but I was tipsy so don't hold to it). All of them were well maintained and working perfectly. They also have little holsters to hold your libations. The next time I'm in the Grand Rapids area I will absolutely visit the Pyramid Scheme. read more

Cool place, full of pinball machines and cool art. Big selection of craft beer on tap but sadly it's always mostly Shorts Brewing and I don't particularly care for their beer. read more

loved this place! usually not a huge fan of crowded bars or live music, but i figured being on vacation means you can do stuff you don't normally do. i saw a show here with some friends and it was great! i know nothing about music venues but this one seemed standard. the good part is that if you're not there for a show, you're not forced to listen to the band because it's a separate room. the bar is really cool because it had lots of pinball machines and many many beers on draft. the friend who lives in grand rapids told us that they usually have incredible deals on beer during the week - it was just normal prices for us, which were normal. basically the pinball machines made it. they don't have some of my favorites, but there's bound to be one or two you really like. parking is difficult so just uber it. read more