Searching for what’s new Up North in 2022? Each month in Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine, we share the newest openings for local businesses, restaurants, breweries, wineries and so much more. Not a print or digital subscriber? Check out our online roundup below to see what’s new in Northern Michigan.

Know of a business that just opened? Have a fun community update? Let us know! editorial@traversemagazine.com

This article first appeared in Traverse Northern Michigan. Find this story and more when you explore our digital issue library. Want Traverse delivered to your door or inbox monthly? View our print subscription and digital subscription options.

December 2022 | Business and Restaurant Openings

BOB’S BUTCHER SHOP – SATELLITE STORE
109 Ottawa St., Grayling | Bob’s Butcher Website
A Roscommon staple, Bob’s Butcher Shop now has a second location in Grayling, sharing a space with White Pine & Petals. You’ll also find an upstairs candy shop and food boards from Get on Board N’ Graze.

FOLKLOR WINE & CIDER
16820 Ferry Rd., Charlevoix | Folklor Website
Construction of the winery is underway at the 52-acre vineyard and orchard. Owners Izabela Babinska and Derrick Vogel are planning to grow cold-hardy varietals such as blaufränkisch and grüner veltliner. For updates, follow Folklor on Instagram.

HIDDEN NOOK BOOKSELLERS
207 E. Michigan Ave., Grayling | Hidden Nook Website
Browse fiction and nonfiction, a well-stocked game section and gifts. Owners Rae and Liam Gosling opened the Nook this fall.

 

Photo by Hidden Nook Bookstore

PLAYA BOWLS
222 E. State St., STE 101, Traverse City | Playa Bowls Website
Serving açaí, pitaya and green bowls along with juices and smoothies in downtown Traverse City.

Business & Restaurant Openings | November 2022

CAST IRON KITCHEN
273 US-31 S., Traverse City | Cast Iron Kitchen Website
With locations in Manton and Cadillac, Cast Iron Kitchen recently opened a third restaurant in Traverse City. The casual family-friendly spot serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

JOJO’S COOKIE CO.
2611 Charlevoix Ave., Petoskey | JoJo’s Cookie Co. Website
If you like chocolate chip cookies with fudgy brownie centers and delicious combos like caramel and pecans, this is the place for you.

JoJo’s Cookie Co. grand opening

Photo by JoJo’s Cookie Co.

KARMA TAPROOM
138 W. Main St., Gaylord | Karma Taproom Website
A taproom with a sports bar feel serving craft beer and cocktails; outside food and deliveries are welcome. Open late.

THE PORT LUDINGTON
222 W. Ludington Ave., Ludington | The Port Website
A collection of boutiques and eateries including House & Harbor (hand-poured candles), Britter’s Twisted Whisk (sweet treats), Cluck Bucket (BBQ), Faire Heart (mini art projects) and HumaniTea (tea shop with responsibly sourced beverages).

WELLNESTED
429 River St., Manistee | Wellnested Website
This home décor and lifestyle store has an added bonus: Owner Teresa Kieffer also specializes in interior styling and organization and offers in-home consults.

November Featured New Business Spotlight

SKYBRIDGE MICHIGAN AT BOYNE MOUNTAIN
1 Boyne Mountain Rd., Boyne Falls | Boyne Mountain Website

This fall, stroll across the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge, newly opened right here in Northern Michigan at Boyne Mountain Resort. The year-round attraction offers panoramic views in all four seasons and connects to Boyne’s trail system. Guests ride one of several chairlifts to the mountain’s top, then take an exhilarating walk along the 1,203-foot-long and 118-foot-high pedestrian bridge.

“Being a suspension bridge, it will sway as visitors cross it, and there’s also a glass section in the middle showing an unobstructed view of the valley floor more than 100 feet down,” says Director of Communications Erin Ernst.“We have plans to continue building out the infrastructure that surrounds the bridge to create spaces where people can take time and soak in the views, enjoy food and drinks, and continue with other recreations by accessing our hiking and biking trails.”

Groceries on the counter and in the fridge

Photo by Boyne Mountain Resort

Business & Restaurant Openings | October 2022

CHEBOYGAN COFFEE ROASTERS
232 N. Main St., Cheboygan | Cheboygan Coffee Roasters Website 
Freshly roasted coffee in the heart of Cheboygan, featuring blends and single roasts from around the world. Light breakfast, lunch and baked goods, all homemade and ready for people on the go.

Groceries on the counter and in the fridge

Photo by Cheboygan Coffee Roasters

LUDINGTON MEAT COMPANY
3815 US-10, Ludington | Ludington Meat Company Website
A 14,600-square-foot hub operated by brothers Alec and Corey Sanders opened its doors this summer offering a meat market, butcher block, deli and smokehouse, plus an in-store taproom and grill for on-site dining. A venison processing center will also be available.

STOCKED
Traverse City-Based Delivery Service | Stocked Website
Going camping, renting a vacation home, docking at a marina for the night? Stocked will bring you groceries. Order everything from candles to charcuterie boards and baked goods; no membership needed. The business, founded in and focused on Northwest Michigan, launched about a year ago and is partnered with major retailers like Meijer and Costco along with local specialty shops.

Groceries on the counter and in the fridge

Photo by Stocked

October Featured New Business Spotlight

THE ALLUVION
414 E. Eighth St., Traverse City | The Alluvion Website

The possibilities are endless at The Alluvion, a 4,000-square-foot arts venue opening soon inside the Commongrounds Cooperative building in Traverse City.

Imagine parents dropping off their littles downstairs at Northern Blooms Montessori, then coming upstairs to The Alluvion for a session of morning yoga before grabbing coffee at Higher Grounds. May Erlewine’s Music for Sprouts class has the space next, where kids can learn how to strum ukuleles. After lunch, an artist comes in for rehearsal, an area non-profit hosts a happy hour at The Alluvion’s bar, and a visiting jazz musician arrives for an evening show in the 150-seat listening room …

“There are a dozen other things we could be doing in that space, too— showing a documentary, hosting a lecture, a filmmaker presenting a series of shorts,” says Brad Kik, co-founder and co-director of Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology.

Groceries on the counter and in the fridge

Photo by MEDC

Crosshatch is one of three partners, including Commongrounds Cooperative and musician Jeff Haas, operating The Alluvion. The team hopes to get occupancy this November and start programming in January 2023. In addition to ticketed events, there will be a variety of free opportunities open to the public—art exhibitions and installations, a monthly open stage featuring emerging artists, educational workshops.

The million-dollar project has seen incredible local support. “Since 2021, the community has shown up in a big way, starting with Impact 100 awarding us their first-ever grant in the arts category for $110,000,” says curator and designer Jessica Kooiman Parker, who is creating a contemporary visual arts program at Commongrounds. Rotary Charities and Michigan Economic Development Corporation both contributed $50,000, and Green Brick Foundation donated $15,000. A recent Patronicity Campaign raised another $65,000 in donations from the community. “We’re filled with gratitude, and so ready to bring this space to the public,” Kooiman Parker says.

“We want to hear from all sorts of folks about how they might use it: theater companies, choirs, storytelling groups, dance, music, education, film—as well as organizations or individuals doing work in food, families and health. This space will work best when it works for all of us.”

Business & Restaurant Openings | September 2022

BAKES & KROPP
801 Front St. | Bay Harbor | Bakes & Kropp Website
Bakes & Kropp, a luxury kitchen design and manufacturing company, expanded to Northern Michigan in June. The showroom is located in the Chatham House Lifestyle Gallery and the team is excited to help homeowners in creating their dream kitchens, bathrooms, closets, wine rooms and more.

BLESSED BE TEA AND APOTHECARY
116 E. Front St. South Ste. | Traverse City | Blessed Be Tea Website
This herbal tea and retail shop offers powerfully charged products with a purpose, whether that be physical or metaphysical. Visitors will find locally sourced handcrafted tea, essential tools for the modern-day spiritualist and a safe space for learning and growing. For upcoming events, follow @blessedbetea on Facebook.

J. BIRD PROVISIONS
109 Bridge Park Dr. | Charlevoix | J. Bird Website
A specialty grocery store with seasonal grab-and-go salads, sandwiches, artisanal dips, beverages and more. Located downtown by the Beaver Island Boat Co.

PICNIC
102 N. Main St. | Leland
Find lots of picnic items from sandwiches and salads to candy, charcuterie, ice cream and fudge. Follow on Instagram @leland_picnic.

September Featured New Business Spotlight

HIDDEN TOY STORE
215 Mill St. | Northport |Yard & Lake Website
You won’t find Northport’s newest business on a traditional map. Tucked into the back of home décor boutique Yard & Lake is a small room curtained by nautical rope. Aptly named Hidden, the shop is “a little treasure cove just loaded floor to ceiling with toys,” says owner Shawn Santo, who explains that the only way to find it is on treasure maps given out to children in town. When “pint-sized visitors” reach Yard & Lake, they’ll need to find and ring an authentic navy bell. After ringing it, they’ll hear a warning from employees, “Enter at your own risk,” and can then pull back the ropes to reveal Hidden. A gold “X” painted on the floor sits beneath shelves of goodies—mermaid tail swimsuits, sand toys and more—letting kids know they’ve found the fortune. The inventive idea of combining a treasure hunt and a toy store was imagined by Santo and her husband Kevin Borsay, who hope to create joyous memories for kids. “When you see a child squeal because of a submarine or a mermaid tail, you can’t beat that feeling,” Santo says. “We just want to be a part of children’s memories of Northport.”

Hidden Toys Sign

Photo by Dave Weidner

Kids section at Yard and Lake

Photo by Dave Weidner

Nautical decor inside Yard and Lake

Photo by Dave Weidner

Inside Yard and Lake in Northport

Photo by Dave Weidner

August 2022 Business & Restaurant Openings

AMY KATE DESIGNS & GOLDEN HILL FARMS
131 River St., | Elk Rapids | Amy Kate Website
This gift, home and garden shop offers the likes of beeswax candles, potted plants and beautiful florals. The shop is run by the talented team at Amy Kate Designs, a boutique for floral design and events.

CAPITAL DOG
106 St. Mary’s St. | Lake Leelanau | Capital Dog Website
Serving hot dogs, slow-roasted pork and ice cream. Look for the white building with a black awning; if the stoplight on the side is green, they’re open.

ETERNAL WELLNESS SPA
400 W. Front St., Suite 200 | Traverse City | Spa Website
A downtown medspa above North Peak Brewing Company offering a wide variety of services and aesthetic medicine procedures.

QUIET MOOSE SECOND HOME
305 E. Mitchell St. | Petoskey | Quiet Moose Website
The Quiet Moose, a full-service interior design studio and furniture store in downtown Petoskey, opened a second location across the street to expand its selection of indoor and outdoor goods and décor.

ROUGH PONY
144 Hall St., Suite 100 | Traverse City | Rough Pony Insta
A cash-only coffee and juice bar inside the Warehouse MRKT with fresh bagels from Bubbie’s. Hours and menu posted on Instagram @roughpony.

Menu from Rough Pony in Traverse City

Photo by Rough Pony, Warehouse MRKT

Rough Pony in Traverse City

Photo by Rough Pony, Warehouse MRKT

Drinks on a table at Rough Pony in Traverse City

Photo by Rough Pony, Warehouse MRKT

July 2022 Business & Restaurant Openings

BOYNE RIVER GRILL
201 Water St. | Boyne City | Boyne River Grill Website
This family-owned restaurant opened in April and sources ingredients from local farms whenever possible for dishes like deep-fried cauliflower, smash burgers, garden salads and more. View the full menu on Facebook.

CUTEA BOBA
1525 S. Division St. Ste. 105 | Traverse City | Cutea Boba Website
As of press time, Traverse City’s first bubble tea shop was on track to open in June. Bubble tea originated in Taiwan in the ’80s and is a tea-based drink with chewy tapioca balls, known as boba.

FRICANO’S
440 River St. | Manistee | Fricano’s Website
The Michigan pizza chain is opening its seventh location in downtown Manistee on the Manistee River channel. From the deck, patrons can watch the passing freighters and the sunset over the river.

LIVE WELL ACUPUNCTURE
126 Boardman Ave. STE. D | Traverse City | Live Well Website
Live Well, opened in June, offers dry needling, O3 rejuvenation (ozone therapy), cupping and herbal medicine in addition to acupuncture.

UP SUNRISE COTTAGES
On Farmer Lake | Little Lake | UP Sunrise Cottages Website
These lakefront cottages sit on spring-fed Farm Lake in the town of Little Lake (about 10 minutes from Gwinn and 30 minutes from Marquette). Purchased by the Martin family in 2021, they’re excited to offer an Aquapark, brand new playground and a fleet of kayaks, paddleboards, canoes and rowboats.

Boyne River Grill Dishes

Photo by Boyne River Grill

Summer Business & Restaurant Openings in Northern Michigan

THE BURROW
12930 S. West Bay Shore Dr. | Traverse City | The Burrow Website
The owners of Mama Lu’s and The Flying Noodle are opening a third restaurant in the former Tuscan Bistro space. The Burrow will offer California-inspired to-go food and alcohol to boaters at Elmwood Township Marina via an underground tunnel, along with a dine-in menu. Expected to open in early summer.

COASTLINE CYCLES
1100 Main St. | Frankfort | Coastline Cycles Website
Owners Meg Doby and Ethan Przekaza are offering bike rentals and repair, setting you up to pedal the North (the 22-mile Betsie Valley Trail runs right behind the building!).

Outside view of Coastline Cycles

Photo by Coastline Cycles

HARBOR CELLAR
300 W. Lake St. | Harbor Springs | Harbor Cellar Website
Located inside Harbor Springs Market, the new 2,000-square-foot cellar has one of the largest wine and spirits selections in Northern Michigan.

STIX
1963 N. Lakeshore Dr. | Ludington | Stix Website
The 1954 restaurant and bowling alley has been completely reconstructed. Now, the two-story building has a mezzanine for private events, an area for live music, an outdoor rooftop known as The Pier, a ground-level beer garden with lawn games and a covered patio with a fireplace.

The biergarten at STIX in Ludington

Photo by Stix Ludington

Spring Business & Restaurant Openings in Northern Michigan

BIRCH TREE BAKERY & CAFE
181 E. Main St. | Harbor Springs | Birch Tree Website
Baker Nicole Hall makes coffee cake, cinnamon rolls, brownies, muffins and more sweet treats along with savory breakfast items like burritos and quiches. But one of her personal faves is the loaded cookie bar, stuffed with Oreos and candy bars.

BUCHAN’S WEST BAY
13000 S. West Bay Shore Dr. | Traverse City | Buchan’s Website
The owners of Buchan’s Blueberry Hill on Old Mission Peninsula have opened a new ice cream shop in the former Wares Bros Frosty Treat space (Wares Bros’ second location on South Airport Road remains open).

Buchan's replacing the Wares Frosty Bros sign

Photo by Buchan's West Bay

DOS ÁRBOLES
735 Main St. | Frankfort | Dos Árboles Website
Located next door to Birch & Maple, and operated by the same owners—sommelier Nick and chef Natalie Crawford—Dos Árboles will be serving tacos and tequila when the restaurant opens this spring.

MUNDOS WEST & MUNDOS 305
720 W. Front St. & 305 W. Front St. | Traverse City | Mundos Website
Mundos Roasting & Co. continues to expand its coffee footprint with two new locations this spring. The West café will have limited indoor seating with a focus on single-origin batch brews and grab-and-go sandwiches. At Mundos 305, find large tables for meetings and a more expansive food and drink menu.

Mundos in Traverse City

BEAU EST BEAU
220 N. Main St., Cheboygan | Beau est Beau Website
New this winter, the second location of Beau est Beau is a French-inspired tavern with food, wine, live music, open mic night and pop-up events, plus a by appointment hair parlor. (The original location in Traverse City is a salon only.)

COMMON GOOD BAKERY
1115 E. Eighth St., Traverse City | Common Good Website
The much-loved TC bakery is working toward a summer opening of its second location bringing pastries, pizza and sandwiches to the east side of town. (See the sketch for the new location below!)

Sketches of the new Common Good Bakery location

Photo by Common Good Bakery

L.A.COOL
120 E. Front St., Traverse City | L.A. Cool Website
Find elevated wardrobe essentials for women at this downtown store that opened April 15. Owner Lisa Dykema, whose maiden name is Lisa Anne Cool, is excited to give TC access to designer clothing that’s worn by celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Kaia Gerber. 

MADCAP COFFEE COMPANY
106 N. Main St., Leland | Madcap Website
Grand Rapid’s Madcap Coffee is expanding north, taking over the former Blue Boat Coffee in Leland. A late spring opening is expected, and the new shop will be open year-round.

SHEAR CANINE PET SPA
121 Bridge St., Elk Rapids | Shear Canine Website
All breeds are welcome at this pet spa offering dog and cat grooming along with other services for furry friends.

Northern Michigan Winter Restaurant & Business Openings

THE BIG SALAD
332 E. Front St., Traverse City | Big Salad Website
The restaurant opened in October for indoor dining, carryout, curbside pick-up as well as delivery via DoorDash. An outdoor dining area is planned for the spring of 2022. Choose from 40 salad toppings and 30 dressings, plus smoothies, sandwiches, wraps and soups.

BLOSSOM BIRD BUBBLE TEA & BAKERY
128 N. 3rd St., Marquette | Blossom Bird Website
A husband-and-wife team with a
love for anime and pop culture opened the cafe and tiny bakery in August. Serving bubble tea with freshly made boba along with goodies like macarons, mini layer cakes, cream pan buns, cupcakes and more.

Bubble Tea from Blossom Bird

Photo by Blossom Bird Bubble Tea

EVO ATHLETICS
2751 US-31, Traverse City | EVO Athletics Website
TC’s newest gym opened in October offering HIIT and yoga classes. The team specializes in sports performance training along with health and wellness education.

FIDDLEHEADS
202 W. Main St., Lake Leelanau | Fiddleheads Website
This eclectic breakfast and sandwich shop serves beer, wine and cocktails. Find the restaurant on Facebook for hours or call 231.994.2121.

OLIVE BRANCH BOUTIQUE
441 E. Front St., Traverse City | Olive Branch Boutique Website
The newest shop opened by the owners of Magnolia Boutique in Cadillac and Rockford, Olive Branch carries women’s clothing, accessories, jewelry and more.

Woman standing in front of Olive Branch Boutique.

Photo by Olive Branch Boutique

BUZZELLI FOODS
1110 E. Hammond, Traverse City | Buzzelli Website
In addition to freshly made New York-style mozzarella in balls, marinated knots and burrata, this specialty grocery store has grab-and-go options like eggplant parmesan and lasagna along with Italian bowls, gifts, pasta, sweet treats and more.

DHARAMSALA ON FRONT
317B & 319 E. Front St., Traverse City | Dharamsala Website
Dharamsala TC, a yoga studio also offering mediation training and wellness classes, is launching a second location (the first is on Robinwood Court). The space overlooks the Boardman River and Grand Traverse Bay, and the owners are targeting a late January opening.

I’M PLANTY AF
124 S. Union St., Traverse City | Planty Website
My Secret Stash, owned by Karen Hilt, is known for its selection of gifts for all ages from Michigan and American makers, but Karen and her business partner, Garrett Weslock, also have a wide variety of houseplants. Now, they’ve opened a second store to expand that selection featuring both rare and common species. In the future, Karen plans to have a soil and terrarium bar, potting services, a plant hospital (great idea!) and plant accessories. 

Plants at I'm Planty AF in Traverse City

Photo by I'm Planty AF

Photo(s) by Playa Bowls