Restaurants, Retail On The Move

Downtown Traverse City’s food and beverage scene continues to thrive as two new players prepare to enter the market. The Ticker has a first look at both projects, plus other restaurant and retail news from around the region.

Sparks BBQ
After a successful first year operating a food truck in The Little Fleet lot, Sparks BBQ owner Dean Sparks is ready to bring his authentic pit-style BBQ to a brick-and-mortar location.

Sparks signed a lease agreement this weekend to take over the former Elsie’s spot at 439 East Front Street. Elsie’s owner Anthony Craig is relocating the café’s breakfast operations to his Georgina’s restaurant, freeing up the 350 square-foot space.

“The support I got from the community (last year) made it clear I’ve got a viable business,” says Sparks, whose menu focuses on hearty helpings of brisket, ribs, pulled pork and chicken slow-smoked over northern Michigan hardwoods. “The standard menu will still be there, but we’ll be expanding to include things like smoked ham, corned beef, meatloaf and turkey, depending on the season.”

Sparks also hopes to create a “vibrant outside seating area” that will expand his seating capacity and lend more “color and activity” to the block. City commissioners will consider approving a lease agreement tonight (Monday) for Sparks to use the small city-owned grassy space directly west of the building as an outdoor dining area.

Sparks hopes to be open by April 15 for year-round lunch and dinner service. The eatery will offer dine-in, take-out and call-ahead delivery to boats via the restaurant’s dock on the Boardman River. The company’s food truck will also be active at festivals and events this summer.

Olives & Wine
A new wine bar could be headed to downtown Traverse City in the Corner Loft building at the corner of Front and Cass streets.

City commissioners will consider approving a liquor license application tonight for Olives & Wine, described as a “full-service wine, spirits, craft bar and cider bar experience.” Site plans submitted to the city show a 1,327 square-foot space on the building’s main floor featuring a wine bar, entertainment stage, customer seating areas, multiple wine storage spaces and a plating area. The space can hold up to 90 people.

Proprietor Ariel Mokdad declined to discuss project details beyond those submitted to the city, but confirmed the new venture is being planned “in collaboration” with Corner Loft. “I think it’s something Traverse City is needing,” she says.

Olives & Wine’s requested Class C redevelopment liquor license allows for the sale of beer, wine and mixed-drinks for on-premises consumption, with the requirement the business must close by 12am at least five nights a week and end liquor service by the same time.

In Other Restaurant/Retail News…
New restaurant Alliance – a partnership between former Tapawingo restaurateur Harlan “Pete” Peterson, chef James Bloomfield and Warehouse MRKT owners Dan and Meridith Falconer – has officially opened for business. The 38-seat eatery features a bar and “vegetable-forward” menu of eclectic small plates that rotate daily. Dinner service is available Mon-Sat from 5-10pm. Alliance will be serving Warehuose MRKT neighbor BLK MRKT's coffee at the restaurant; BLK MRKT is also expanding its own café hours from 7am-5pm Mon-Sat.

Relish clothing boutique owner Tracey Grabel, who also is based in Warehouse MRKT, is preparing to launch a second store location in downtown Elk Rapids at 141 River Street. The store is set to open May 15. Down the block at 204 River Street, BelleAdora Boutiques has opened a new Elk Rapids location. The company, which specializes in women’s clothing and accessories, operates two other stores in Bellaire and Kalkaska.

Finally, White On Rice opened the doors to its new brick-and-mortar sushi eatery on Fourteenth Street in Traverse City last week. The small restaurant offers six bar stools for dine-in customers, plus take-out orders and in-town deliveries.