Numerous changes are underway in downtown Traverse City, including a new tasting room, Fresh Coast Beer Works preparing to close, an ambitious project coming to the former Cousin Jenny’s building, restaurant changes, news on the Bijou, and more in The Ticker’s latest look at local updates.
Michigan-based craft distillery Gypsy Spirits has opened a new tasting room at 309 West Front Street – the West End Lofts building next to Barrio. The tasting room will feature “Gypsy’s celebrated collection of handcrafted spirits, including Gypsy Vodka, a rotating menu of seasonal cocktails exclusive to this location, and a lineup of live events and music,” according to the company. Brothers and co-founders Michael and Adam Kazanowski received city commission approval earlier this year on their liquor license application for the new space, which is their third northern Michigan tasting room following two locations in the Petoskey area. The brand started with Gypsy Vodka and has since expanded to 12 spirits and seven canned cocktails. The Traverse City tasting room – which features a colorful interior design scheme by Michigan designer Dawn Whyte – is open Monday-Thursday 4pm-11pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm, and Sunday 11am-9pm.
Just around the corner, Mundos 305 is preparing to launch a new food program designed by Randy Minish, former chef and co-owner of Terrain restaurant in Bellaire. After Terrain closed last year, Minish relocated briefly to Portland before returning to northern Michigan. Mundos owner Dan Clark compares Minish’s menu to “elevated tapas,” featuring dishes like tuna tartare, beef short rib, poached shrimp, and apple tart tatin. The West Front street coffee shop will preview Minish’s food with live music this Saturday, with full food service starting December 2 from 2pm-8pm daily (closed Sunday). Mundos 305 is also awaiting final state approval to begin offering offer wine tastings, wine by the glass, and bottle sales in collaboration with MAWBY.
After seven years in business, Fresh Coast Beer Works is closing its doors on Park Street. Saturday will be the brewery’s last day, with a farewell concert and drink specials starting at 7pm. “Aaron (Spangler) and I have made the decision that our time with Fresh Coast Beer Works has come to an end,” co-owner Chuck Green wrote on Facebook. “This was not a decision that we took lightly and without losing countless nights of sleep. Our employees and customers mean the world to us, and the relationships we’ve created with all of you are some of the greatest of our lives.” Green noted that there’s a “possible agreement that would combine our great place with another brewery in the same location,” adding: “These details will be released as soon as anything is finalized.”
Around the corner, new restaurant India Garden is planning a mid-December opening in the former Scalawags space on State Street. City commissioners earlier this year approved a lease for the space with Malkeat Singh, a restaurateur who ran Bombay Cuisine and Curry Kitchen in Grand Rapids. Under the lease terms, Singh proposed paying $273,960 for a five-year stint, a cost that breaks down to $4,566 per month. The contract includes one proposed five-year renewal option.
An ambitious remodel is underway on the former Cousin Jenny’s building at the corner of State and Union streets (pictured upper right, rendering). @properties Christie’s International Real Estate is opening new Traverse City offices in the ground floor. Headquartered in Birmingham, the independently owned and operated affiliate of the global luxury network has 215 licensed REALTORS, with locations in Birmingham, Detroit, Rochester, Northville, Grosse Pointe, Ann Arbor, Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Royal Oak, and now Traverse City. Eric Walstrom and Alex Irrer oversee the firm.
Freshwater Development, meanwhile, has started construction on two “bespoke residences” that will occupy the upper two floors of the building, according to the company’s Instagram. The five-bedroom homes will include individual elevators, private garages, and expansive rooftop terraces. Listing agent Lydia Wiley is representing the units with brokerage by @properties Christie’s International Real Estate. Foundations are nearly finished for the expansion, with concrete footings and walls constructed to support the new steel and wood frame buildout. The residential units are expected to be ready by summer 2025.
After the Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF) announced its intention to terminate its city lease for the Bijou by the Bay – with the city requesting a December 2 vacate date – the city has agreed to extend that deadline to December 31. TCFF board member Anne Moore requested additional time for TCFF to remove all its personal property and return its building keys, a request staff granted, according to city emails. City commissioners are expected to have a study session after the holidays to discuss next steps for the Bijou building, including potentially putting out a request-for-proposals (RFP). The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians has expressed interest in the space, as have other community groups, according to city staff.
Interested restaurateurs and retailers could have a chance to occupy one of downtown’s most prominent buildings. After purchasing the Beadle building last year – formerly home to Mackinaw Brewing Company on the corner of Front and Cass streets (pictured, lower left) – owner Jon Carlson listed the building’s 4,240-square-foot first floor for lease this week for $13,250 per month. The “open space is ready for your custom buildout and vision – whether you’re looking to create a chic retail boutique, a trendy cafe, or a fine dining restaurant,” the listing states. Carlson’s other Traverse City projects include North Peak Brewing Company, Kilkenny’s Irish Pub, Blue Tractor Barbeque, Mission Table, and Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant and Brewery. He closed on the Beadle building for $3.2 million in 2023 under 161 East Front Street TC LLC. Carlson could still end up using the first floor himself but wanted to explore its market potential, he tells The Ticker. “We are working on our final designs, but had a few people inquire so we thought we would see what is out there,” he says, adding his team “will be prepared to move forward before next summer if need be.”
Finally, several changes are underway on the west side of downtown. Jack Senff and Em Randall are winding down Make Believe Pizza after previously operating as a pop-up and then this year as a brick-and-mortar shop inside West Side Beverage. The duo said their lease is up in the new year and they’ve decided not to renew, noting that “eventually all things end.” Make Believe Pizza will operate through the end of the year, with final pizza sales on December 27 and 28. Also on West Front Street, Kilkenny’s Irish Pub has announced it will host a special Christmas Pop-Up Bar this season with “wall-to-wall decorations, tinsel, and twinkling lights,” plus special Griswold’s-themed cocktails. The bar will be open to guests 21+ November 29-January 4 with hours of Monday-Saturday 4pm-2am and Sunday 4pm-12am. Attendees are encouraged to don their best movie-themed attire.
Also on West Front Street, The Cheese Lady owner Tina Zinn officially handed ownership to her daughter Kim, who previously served as store manager. Tina will still be working in the shop, according to the company’s Facebook page. Finally, former Patisserie Amie owner Eric Fritch has begun hosting pop-up Sunday brunches with his food truck Le Metropolitain at Traverse City Whiskey Company on Fourteenth Street. The truck is open weekly at the stillhouse from 11am to 2pm.
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