Butler Street
Butler Street
4.5
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The main street of Saugatuck was named for the town's founder, William Gay Butler.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
422 reviews
Excellent
243
Very good
142
Average
32
Poor
2
Terrible
3
QCWorldTravelers
Quebec City, Canada251 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
We went to the Butler for a special occasion and were a bit disappointed in the quality of food and the prices charged. We started with a Gouda Cheese Nugget, they were too large, hard, crusty and had hardly any cheese inside. we did not even finish them. I had the Pike. It was served over a mound of mashed potatoes, asparagus and then topped with sauce. I was disappointed the pike was not crispy, in fact this mountain of food was quite mushy. My guest had the perch basket and said the fries, onion rings and perch were very good. The view was nice, but not the quality of food.
Written October 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justalittletrip
Peoria, IL23 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
This was a great street to walk down, the main drag in Saugatuck. Water Street is a close second. We could easily access Butler from our airbnb, and the walk was delightful. Many nice houses with beautiful flowers. There were relatively clean public restrooms on the walk in, which is nice for a tourist location. Saugatuck Drug Store is on Butler for your vacation needs (including pharmacy). There many cute shops on this street and all the adjoining ones. Nicely priced Saugatuck apparel (and good quality) at the drug store. I wish I had had time to take in art galleries. The rainbow crosswalk was at the end of Butler Street, near the The Butler restaurant.
Written June 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SharonB231
Toledo, OH1,212 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
This is a nice street to walk with many shops and restaurants. There are art galleries here as well. You can easily find souvenirs or food here. Parking can be difficult on the weekends as it is very popular. A fun tourist area.
Written August 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rhiannon A
52 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
Lots of shops, restaurants and galleries. Live music. Beautiful area of town. Some stores a bit pricey, but otherwise a great stop while in town. Parking at the high school a few blocks away.
Written July 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anniversaryinfl
Fort Wayne, IN80 contributions
Sep 2020
The Butler street shops were very nice and we enjoyed checking them out. We were there right after Labor Day and things were pretty dead. We could not even find a place to sit down and have breakfast. But, the restaurants did open up at lunch time. I am sure it is much different in season.
Written September 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Autumn P
East Peoria, IL1,578 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
We've been all over and this is a great walkable downtown. It's also right on water. Tons of shopping and food. Easy parking. Dog friendly. Clean public restrooms. I loved it and definitely would go back. Minutes drive to beach too.
Written November 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diann M
Manitou Beach, MI28 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
Lots of quaint shops and beautiful water front. Enjoyed a quiet time in town but lots of shops were closed. Shop keepers were very friendly. Lots of restaurants and spaces to sit and rest. Waterfront is beautiful.
Written May 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Opinion8ted
Saugatuck, MI228 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
I live in Saugatuck, but even I am impressed by the shops (and restaurant options) in such a small town. Butler Street is the heart of downtown, with Water Street, which runs parallel to Butler, also laden with shopportunities. Don't overlook the Butler Pantry on the south end of the shopping area for kitchen items and little food treats, or the used book store next door. The Fenn Valley tasting room is nice in the afternoon. A few new shops now line the block next to lovely Mize Garden. There are some great places to look for clothing, too. Saugatuck Drugs is full of fun things to look at. Even if you were here a year ago, enough changes to keep it interesting and lively around here. On busy weekends in summer parking can be a challenge. It is now possible to drive up Francis Street to the high school and park there, with regular shuttle service available for the 6 blocks or so to downtown. Sometimes parking is also available in the lot next to the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, though it might cost $5.
Written August 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JCHappyskier
London, UK48 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
A hot sunny afternoon in Saugatuck and the streets were lined with cars and the sidewalks lined with visitors. Nevertheless we easily found parking on Butler Street and were soon in amongst the visitors browsing the various shops.
There are no chain stores on Butler Street just a selection of highly individual outlets selling art, souvenirs, beachwear or food. One of the treats is to encounter the smell of the freshly baked cupcakes but to then gradually lose that as you pick up the irresistible aroma of fudge and popcorn and so on as you venture down the street.
Unless you are minded to buy something the whole street will only take 20-30 minutes but the parking lasts for 3 hours and so there is plenty of time to wander down to the riverfront and enjoy a drink in one of the various bars and cafes.
There are no chain stores on Butler Street just a selection of highly individual outlets selling art, souvenirs, beachwear or food. One of the treats is to encounter the smell of the freshly baked cupcakes but to then gradually lose that as you pick up the irresistible aroma of fudge and popcorn and so on as you venture down the street.
Unless you are minded to buy something the whole street will only take 20-30 minutes but the parking lasts for 3 hours and so there is plenty of time to wander down to the riverfront and enjoy a drink in one of the various bars and cafes.
Written August 2, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William W
St. Petersburg, FL1,011 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
We live in Florida where we are used to all the tourist shops having the same stamped t-shirts and junkie souviners and that is mainly what we find in touristy towns when we travel to most places. However, some of the shoppes along Butler were more upscale and different. A pleasant surprise.
Two special finds were the old style drugstore that has an operating lunch counter in the back selling hamburgers, shakes and ice cream floats and a specialty store selling infused olive oils. They must have 50 - 100 different varieties and each available for tasting. Now that is totally different from any store we have come across in our travels.
Two special finds were the old style drugstore that has an operating lunch counter in the back selling hamburgers, shakes and ice cream floats and a specialty store selling infused olive oils. They must have 50 - 100 different varieties and each available for tasting. Now that is totally different from any store we have come across in our travels.
Written August 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tourist615632
Oak Park, Illinois
Will the majority of stores and galleries be open around October 20, 2021?
Written September 24, 2021
Planning a trip 5/16/2021 for three days. Sunday thru Wednesday. Will stores and restaurants be open?
Written May 9, 2021
A few friends and I are headed to Saugatuck this weekend (11/5 - 11/8). Are stores still open? Any fun things to do or see in Saugatuck or close by? (excluding beach/sand related stuff... a friend if mine is currently in a foot brace and/or boot).
Written November 2, 2020
We were there the week after Labor Day and it was pretty slow with many businesses closed already. If you call one of the hotels they could probably help more than I can, but my guess is that most will be closed. Good luck
Written November 2, 2020
Hi I will be staying Sunday till Tuesday October 18-20 Is everything open?
Written October 12, 2020
I am not sure, I would contact local chamber of commerce. Things were already closing when we were there right after Labor Day. They had already closed the chain ferry and we had to drive around to the beach.
Written October 13, 2020
I am going to be in the Saugatuck area this coming up weekend (11-8 thru 11-11) and wanted to see if the stores are open in Saugatuck
Written November 5, 2018
When I was there first week of October some of the seasonal stores were closed. With that said there were still plenty of store open to provide one with shopping and eating opportunities. The weekend is always the best time to go this time of year as some closed stores open on the weekend only. Hope this helps.
Written November 6, 2018
Are the shops open in late April?
Written September 24, 2018
Many are open, a few are not. Some of the downtown restaurants are closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Written September 24, 2018
Do things shut down after Labor Day? I noticed only two hotels available the weekend of the 7th.
Written August 22, 2018
I agree that you should contact a local business however, many tourist places are booked solidly for the gorgeous weather in September and October.
Written August 23, 2018
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