As Traverse City gets its first glimpses of winter winding down, local business activity is doing a little “springing” to action itself, including an all-new restaurant and much more.

Smoke and Porter Coming To East Bay
A new higher-end dining option is coming to the restaurant and retail strip on U.S. 31 North along East Bay.

Henry and Mindy Bisson are opening Smoke and Porter Public House in the former location of Bamboo Garden 1. They are shooting to be open by the end of May.

The Bissons had worked for Chef Michael Peterson for 13 years, at Lulu’s in Bellaire and at Siren Hall in Elk Rapids – Henry as chef de cuisine and Mindy as general manager. But with Lulu’s on the market, the Bissons decided to venture out on their own.

Henry describes Smoke and Porter as “a new American smokehouse where farm to table meets the firepit.”

From salads featuring smoked fish to house-smoked pastrami, the menu will play with – and highlight –smoke as a flavoring and as an ingredient.

Bisson says he eventually hopes to get to the point of making his own bacon, ham and charcuterie and says his new restaurant is inspired by both the smoked and preserved food culture here.

“I think it’s a theme that hasn’t quite been touched yet,” he adds of the local food scene.

Smoke and Porter will feature a 12-seat bar with eight microbrew taps (and also will serve wine and liquor), a lounge area and a dining area with total seating of approximately 100.

New Tattoo Studio In Old Town
Life and business partners Johnny and Susan Gallo have opened Spellbound TC Tattoo Studio at 402 S. Union in Traverse City’s Old Town district. It takes over the space formerly occupied by Shoreline Center for Healing, which recently merged and relocated to Whole Health Traverse City on E. Eighth Street.

Johnny brings 27 years of experience as a tattoo artist, most of it in and around his native Astoria, Queens in New York. Susan is originally from Traverse City and the couple recently relocated here. Susan runs the retail component, which she describes as “enchantments and gifts” including candles, incense and jewelry.

Cherry Hill Boutique Relocating
Cherry Hill Boutique is moving from 156 E. Front – next to The Franklin – to the former Americana Gallery location at 224 E. Front Street, which became available after the owners retired last year. 

Owner Annie Hill first opened the boutique downtown in 1998. She says the new location will open the third week of March.

Warehouse MRKT Update
Chuck Korson opened his BLK MRKT café in late January in the newly renovated Warehouse MRKT on Hall Street. Meanwhile, building owners Dan and Meridith Falconer will open Wood + Cloth on March 16, featuring home furnishings, clothing, gifts and specialty edibles.

Also, to coincide with the building remodel, Tracey Gabel reconfigured her women’s apparel store Relish to freshen the space.

Spanglish Doubles Seating
The popular (and small) Spanglish at the Grand Traverse Commons did a little renovation of its dining area earlier this winter and has doubled its seating capacity. Co-owner Anna Serrano says they repurposed some old church pews and had a table made by Joe Buteyn Design.

Former House of Doggs Still Empty
Despite a tight inventory for retail space in downtown Traverse City – the former House of Doggs location at 120 S. Union remains empty since the eatery closed in the fall to focus on its Grand Traverse Mall location. Building owner Mark Dancer tells The Ticker he thought he had it leased a couple weeks ago but it fell through.