New Restaurant To Open at Former TraVino

John McGee and Glen Harrington are headed east.

The duo, owners of Harrington’s By The Bay in Greilickville and Sorellina in downtown Traverse City, will open soon a restaurant at the former TraVino Wine & Grille in Acme. TraVino, owned by Schelde Enterprises, closed in February 2013 after Howard Schelde decided to retire.

Along with a group of local investors, McGee and Harrington purchased the TraVino building and property and will now begin renovations, including a revamping of the interior, new flooring, and an all-new roof.

The new, yet-to-be-named eatery will offer lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunches, McGee tells The Ticker, though the restaurant’s style and fare have not yet been finalized. They expect to open this fall.

“TraVino was successful and they did a nice job,” says McGee. “It’s obviously a great location and the east side is obviously growing and needs more options for dining.”

The new life at the former TraVino site occurs as development along the M-72 corridor begins to heat up. The new Meijer store just east of the restaurant is expected to be the anchor of significant new retail development.

McGee adds that his group was interested in the project with or without the Meijer development. “Even without it, it was an enticing investment,” he says.

The duo opened Harrington’s By The Bay in May 2011 and Sorellina one year later.

TraVino was originally built as Grand Traverse Resort’s golf cart and equipment storage barn and was later expanded and renovated into a restaurant. TraVino opened its doors in 2002.