Curling, Craft Beer and Burgers at Broomstack Kitchen & Taphouse in Maple City

Broomstack Kitchen & Taphouse fired up its ovens February 6 in Maple City, and the attached Leelanau Curling Club will welcome players this spring. It’ll be Northwestern Michigan’s only dedicated curling ice open year round.

The Quick Facts

Broomstack Kitchen & Taphouse is serving burgers made with grass-fed beef, hand-crafted pizza and crave-worthy bacon (bacon blondie a la mode, anyone?). The full bar features 20 beer taps, including a significant selection of Michigan craft brews.
The Leelanau Curling Club will have weekly learn-to-curl events, open curling, adult leagues, youth programs, corporate and group events and curling invitational “friendlies.”
The historic gymnasium and stage attached to the Broomstack will be available for events of all types.
The action is all happening at the historic schoolhouse property on Burdickville Road just west of the stop sign in Maple City.
Anyone interested in learning more or in joining the Broomstack/Leelanau Curling team, email team@eatdrinkcurl.com.

No curling experience, no problem! We spoke with Jen Reutter, owner of Broomstack Kitchen & Taphouse, to get more info on this emerging pastime as well as the other exciting things happening at the Broomstack facility!

I’ve never curled. What should I know?

For folks interested in curling, you can book a 1 hour and 50 minutes “Learn To Curl” class online (available within the next week) from our website. Learn To Curl’s will be available all weekend and several days a week. If you’re here for dinner, and there is room available, you can even sign up on the spot! Participants should wear warm clothes and can expect to learn the basic rules of curling, practice throwing the stones and sweeping. A Learn To Curl is the prerequisite to be able to book open curling time with friends or join one of our leagues.

How athletic do you need to be … is it pretty rigorous?

We like to say that the sport of curling is for the young and old, the athletic and arthritic—anyone can do it! It’s one of the most inclusive, fun activities out there.

Food + curling is quite the combination!

How did your background prepare you for the two?

Our partners at this property, David and Theresa Gersenson, are the developers of the curling club. Our two families own the restaurant, but my husband Joey Reutter is the general manager at Broomstack. Both David and Joey curl, and I have a cooking and business admin background. We are all locals. The Gersesons live in Cedar and we live down the road in Maple City.

What types of events do you envision hosting in the schoolhouse?

The old schoolhouse has an incredible vintage wooden gymnasium attached at the rear of the building. We will be developing that as a space for community and private events from local basketball leagues and yoga classes to weddings and live music for a few hundred guests. We also have 17 acres of rolling natural space we plan to incorporate in our vision.

How can we stay up to date on the opening of the curling facility?

Keep checking our website, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. We will share all the updates as they unfold!