Tom’s Plans Ambitious “Market Village” Expansion of Fourteenth Street Site; More Retail, Restaurant News

Tom’s Food Markets is planning a significant redevelopment of its Fourteenth Street property, aiming to create a “market village” anchored by the grocery store with four new tenants in the former Rite Aid space and two new outlot buildings with multiple restaurant and/or retail tenants. The Ticker has an exclusive first look at the company’s plans, plus other business news from around the region.

Tom’s/Market Village
As Tom’s Food Markets prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary in May, the company is planning an ambitious redevelopment of its Fourteenth Street property.

President Nancy Deering Sands says her goal is to create a “market village concept” offering several new shopping options at the site. The first phase will be to convert the old Rite Aid space next to Tom’s – about 13,000 square feet – into four individual retail units, a project that’s already underway. A listing for the space cites apparel, fitness/wellness, boutique retail, coffee, food, and personal services among targeted uses. Exterior upgrades, expanded sidewalk, and landscaping and vehicle flow improvements are all planned. Deering Sands says the goal is to have the new tenants in place by May 2027.

From there, a second phase calls for constructing two outlot buildings in the parking lot closer toward Division Street. That will likely begin in 2028, according to Deering Sands. One building is estimated at 5,000 square feet, while another is estimated at 12,000 square feet. Ideal uses include “national and emerging fashion retailers, outdoor and workwear brands, contemporary apparel and lifestyle boutiques, jewelry, beauty, and specialty accessory concepts,” according to the listing. Restaurants are also listed as desired, with the goal of creating an “upscale, lifestyle-oriented shopping center” across the site anchored by Tom’s.

Jeff Higgins of Signature Associates, who represents the listing, says that grocery stores have become strong magnets for restaurants and retail stores wanting to be near a location that’s generating multiple customer trips a week – particularly in a time of increased competition from online shopping. The aim is to “bring in shops and boutiques that are going to help create that longer customer dwelling time at the shopping center and a sense of place for the community,” he says.

That includes creating a future “pocket park” with a gazebo or green space on the site, Higgins says. Higgins says tenant demand has already been strong, particularly with escalating rents downtown that are prompting retailers to seek out alternatives. The Fourteenth Street site has ample parking – another advantage over downtown, Higgins says – with close proximity to multiple neighborhoods and easy accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.

Traverse City Planning Director Shawn Winter says many commercial uses are a use-by-right at the site, which should make it relatively straightforward for Tom’s to proceed. He notes the city has future plans to reconstruct Fourteenth Street and has identified the corridor as a key area for growth and redevelopment. Deering Sands hopes the company’s plans will be part of that revitalization, noting: “There’s a ton of opportunity in that corridor.”

More restaurant and retail news…
New restaurant Pistoleros Mexican Grill is opening in the former Agave Mexican Grill space on Garfield Avenue on May 5 (Cinco de Mayo). Owner Brooke Santos says that among other specialties, the restaurant will have authentic slow-cooked birria shredded and served in tacos and quesadillas with a consume dipping broth, plus sizzling fajitas, burritos, and more. The restaurant will open at 11am daily with happy hour offered Monday-Friday 2pm-5pm. The bar will feature 12 taps, Mexican bottled favorites, and margaritas in more than eight flavors, according to Santos.

Mexican fans will also enjoy “one more summer of margs and tacos” at Mama Lu’s, which has delayed its planned conversion to an Asian restaurant until the fall, according to a business Facebook post. As previously reported in The Ticker, Mama Lu’s had originally planned to have its last day on Cinco de Mayo and then close for a week before reopening as fast-casual Asian restaurant Happy Cat. However, after one of the owners suffered a recent medical emergency, the group decided to postpone the conversion until the fall.

Further down the corridor on East Front Street, Traverse Bay Café has closed its doors near the Barlow Street intersection. The Cuban-style eatery had recently come under new ownership but posted on Facebook that after a few months the decision was made “with a heavy heart” to permanently close the café. The café space is now available for lease at a listed price of $4,500.

Two new wellness-related ventures are coming online. TC Nourish has opened its doors at 1214 Garfield Avenue, offering high-protein coffees, gourmet shakes, energy teas, kiddie coolers, and more. Posted hours are Monday-Friday 8am-3pm and Saturday 9am-1pm (closed Sunday). In downtown Traverse City, Energize Wellness & Physical Therapy is opening soon at 117 South Union Street (Suite B), with physical therapy launching first in May followed by fitness classes – including strength training, mobility, yoga, and mat Pilates-inspired classes – in early summer. Physical therapist and founder Cassidy Klein says that “after years of attending fitness classes myself, I was inspired to build a space that supports both recovery and ongoing strength.”

In Garfield Township, Altitude Trampoline Park has officially opened its doors at the Cherryland Center after navigating delays related to sidewalk requirements with the township. Posted hours are Monday-Thursday 10am-7pm, Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-9pm, and Sunday 12pm-8pm. Also in Garfield Township, planning commissioners recently approved an application from Chipotle to open its first Traverse City area location in a new outlot building planned to be built in the former Macy’s parking lot at the Grand Traverse Mall.

Some beverage-related news: Drive-thru coffee stall MI Coffee has relocated in Interlochen due to the roundabout construction, moving from its normal post outside Blue Vase Books down to 2515 J Maddy Pkwy in the Bouwman Realty parking lot. Another drive-thru coffee shop, Caffeinated MI, has opened up in the Mancino’s parking lot at 841 US-31 near Chums Corner. Also on the beverage front, Street Fizz Dirty Soda – a new truck offering customizable drinks with flavored syrups, sodas, and creamers – is planning a Saturday grand opening across from Tilley’s off of Division and Randolph.

Finally, some food updates: Three Pigs Korean BBQ, located in the former Mammoth Distilling space next to The Workshop Brewing Company on Garland Street, has officially opened its doors. The restaurant has a photo booth and private karaoke room in addition to a traditional Korean BBQ set-up, where customers grill marinated meats at their own tables accompanied by a range of sauces, garnishes, vegetables, and sides. The restaurant is open 4pm to midnight daily.

In Elk Rapids, food truck Alley Cats Eats n Sweets will be posting up at Ethanology this summer. The truck is planning to offer a Mexican pop-up menu this week with tacos nachos, tortilla soup, churros, and more, with posted hours of Thursday-Friday 4pm-8pm, Saturday 1pm-8pm, and Sunday 1pm-5pm. Lastly, Jersey Mike’s Subs is planning a new Traverse City location near Chums Corner. Building signage and the company’s website both state the franchise will open soon next to Marco’s Pizza at 916 US-31 South.