Oosterhouses Planning New Sushi Bar, Tasting Room Downtown

Todd and Carter Oosterhouse of Bonobo Winery are planning a new sushi bar and tasting room in downtown Traverse City on Franklin Street, according to a permit application headed to city commissioners for review Tuesday. 

In a letter attached to the application, Todd Oosterhouse wrote that the unique property at 115 Franklin Street - a two-story Victorian home that most recently housed a music school and is zoned C-4, allowing for a wide range of commercial uses - will be converted on the main floor to a "wine/distillery sushi bar." The site will feature "indoor seating as well as use of the front lawn overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay that will be in use during the warm months," he continued. "This will be an off-site tasting room since we have a winery (Bonobo Winery) on Old Mission Peninsula."

Bonobo is applying for multiple permits for the in-town location, including new off-premises tasting room, Sunday sales (AM/PM), entertainment, and outdoor service permits, according to Interim City Clerk Sarah Lutz. An off-premises tasting room license "allows a manufacturer to sell and serve for on-premise consumption at a location separate from the manufacturing premises," she wrote to commissioners. "The Sunday sales permit (AM) allows for the sale of beer, wine, mixed-spirit drink, or spirits from 7am to 12 noon Sunday. No Sunday sales (PM) permit is required for the sale of wine on Sunday after 12 noon."

An entertainment permit "allows certain types of live performances on the licensed premises," according to Lutz, while the outdoor service permit "allows an on-premises licensee to sell and serve alcohol in a well-defined and clearly marked area adjacent to the licensed premises." Todd Oosterhouse said the lawn will have fencing that separates the outdoor permitted alcohol area from the general public.

Local municipal signoff, such as from the city commission, is required prior to state liquor license approval. Bonobo Winery, which has been open for a decade on Old Mission Peninsula, appears to be targeting an intimate experience for its new Franklin Street location, with a projected occupancy limit of just 27. City commissioners will meet Tuesday at 7pm at the Governmental Center.