More dining options are opening this fall on US-31 (both south and north), a new bridal shop is coming to Front Street, and more in The Ticker's latest look at local business news.

Restaurant News
A local restaurant group is expanding and bringing a new dining option to Traverse City’s south side.

Partners John McGee and Glen Harrington – owners of Sorellina, McGee’s No. 72 and Harrington’s By The Bay – are opening a new restaurant called McGee’s 31 in the former Big Papa’s space at 273 US-31 near Chums Corner. The eatery will reflect the duo’s existing three restaurants “as far as menu and concept,” according to McGee, offering house-made burgers, sandwiches, seafood and other menu items featuring “quality, fresh ingredients.”

“That side (of town) doesn’t have a lot in the way of quality dining experiences,” says McGee. He notes the restaurant – which will feature a full bar – will “be convenient” both for Traverse City crowds and those further south, such as in Kingsley and Buckley.

McGee’s 31 will feature seating for more than 90, plus room for functions. The partners are investing over $100,000 into renovating the building and redoing the parking lot. They hope to open the new restaurant “before the holidays,” says McGee.

Across town, franchise owner Joe Lopez is planning a November 14 official grand opening for Denny’s on 878 Munson Avenue/US-31 North. Lopez says his team is putting the finishing touches on the renovated building now and hiring staff. “We hope to start with 150, so we still need to hire about 50,” he says. As with other area restaurateurs, Lopez says staffing shortages and a lack of affordable housing have hampered initial hiring efforts. “I’ve had to relocate some employees from my other locations (in Lansing and Grand Rapids),” he says. “But everything should be good (for the opening).”

Meanwhile, in Suttons Bay, The Blue Lotus Café & Deli closed its doors Saturday. Owner Morgan Rokosz announced on Facebook he is relocating to Washington D.C. “I would like to thank everyone for your support and for your friendships…we hope to keep in touch with all of you,” he wrote.

Retail News
A new Front Street bridal shop aims to attract a younger, more modern clientele with a simple guiding principle: nothing “poofy or foofy, stuffy or fluffy.”

Co-owners Renee Sovis and Annie Zimmerman – long-time friends and co-workers at Yen Yoga & Fitness – are targeting a late December opening for One Oak Bride in Front Row Centre at 121 East Front Street. “We both planned our weddings in the last two years,” says Sovis, “and the kinds of dresses we were interested in weren’t available here. Annie got hers in Chicago, and I bought mine online.”

The duo plan to offer dresses that – while “still classic and romantic” – are non-traditional, bohemian and/or more cutting-edge. “We’re hoping to open the week before Christmas,” Sovis says.

In other retail news, Studios Boutique & Consignment closed this past weekend in Leelanau Studios on Cherry Bend Road. Owner Jodi June Shaw posted on Facebook she lost her studio space in the building. The store’s last day was Saturday.

Health News
Following a 2014 merger between the two organizations, Third Level Crisis Center is closing its doors at 1022 East Front Street and relocating to the Child & Family Services building at 3785 Veterans Drive effective November 1. “We felt in terms of creating a common culture between our teams and programs, it was important to make the move,” says Marketing & Public Relations Director Gina Aranki. The closure will put a high-potential piece of East Front real estate on the market: The 4,473 square-foot Third Level building comes with 20 parking spaces and is zoned for residential, office, retail, hotel and restaurant use. The listing price is $560,000.

Munson Medical Center opened a new pharmacy Monday in Empire next to Empire Family Care. The 9975 Ottawa Avenue location – which will fill a service gap for pharmacies in Empire – will offer prescriptions, medications, drug interaction screenings, consultations, medication therapy management and immunizations. Hours of operation are Mon-Fri 9am-6pm and Sat 9am-2pm.

Also opening its doors Monday, a new medication-assisted treatment clinic aimed at treating opioid and alcohol addiction has launched at 3600 Veterans Drive (Suite 3) in Traverse City. Freedom Recovery Center – which operates locations in Alpena, Marquette and St. Ignace – offers a “comprehensive treatment approach” to addiction that includes physician-supervised Suboxone treatment and recovery support resources.

Arts News
Northport’s new Village Arts Building – owned by Bill and Nina Collins and operated by the Northport Arts Association – will open to the public this Saturday at 10am for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Members’ Show at 301 Mill Street. After hearing of the need for a local building dedicated to the arts, the Collins bought the vacant lot and constructed the new facility, which will host year-round exhibits and classes beginning January 1. The opening Members’ Show will run Oct 22-23 and 29-30 from 10am-4pm, with works for sale the second weekend.

Interlochen Center for the Arts will host a dedication ceremony Friday at 4:30pm for a new addition to its campus, a 23,172-square foot center dedicated to the “health and well-being of artists.” The addition includes a large gym that can be partitioned for basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer and other team sports, weight and fitness rooms, a climbing wall, a game room, a studio, a conference room, and offices for recreation and wellness staff. The center was funded through a bequest from the late Lee W. Dennison, an Interlochen supporter who “believed that a healthy combination of mind and body was the foundation for a better life,” according to an Interlochen announcement.