Several downtown Traverse City businesses are on the move – including swapping locations, preparing for summer relaunches, or getting ready to open their doors for the first time. The Ticker has the latest on those and other restaurant and retail updates from across the region.

Downtown Moves
The recent sale of the building at 122 Cass Street to a new owner means popular downtown retail store My Secret Stash is on the move after 12 years. Owner Karen Roofe is planning to relocate the store to 124 South Union Street, a space she holds the lease to and formerly had her store I'm Planty AF within before consolidating it with My Secret Stash on Cass.

Roofe says she's planning a “rolling transition” starting in the first week of June to move My Secret Stash over to Union, which should be up and running by mid-June featuring the “top sellers, original favorites, and a few newbies.” The Cass store will remain open during the transition with “rolling discounts on overstocks, one-off items, odds and ends, and fixture sales," Roofe says, staying in operation through July 4 for final sales. I'm Planty AF “will be taking a mini pause with an edited selection for the summer due to space constraints,” Roofe says.

My Secret Stash’s move to Union Street is made possible by intimi owner Carolyn Greenman volunteering to move her intimate wear boutique – which is currently located in that space – to a new location inside Warehouse MRKT on Hall Street. The store’s last day on Union will likely be May 30, after which Greenman will close for a few days before reopening intimi in the Evil Queen candle shop space in Warehouse MRKT. Greenman says she’s friends with many of the entrepreneurs in the building and is excited to be in a “community hub” that has both public restrooms and ample surrounding parking.

“There’s a lot of potential there, and I’m very motivated to help make sure there’s continual growth in the foot traffic,” she says. Evil Queen, meanwhile, will have its last day in Warehouse MRKT on May 24 before moving to a new home at 322 East Front Street (formerly Queen Bee Limited). Evil Queen will have a grand reopening party on May 29 with a photo booth and walk-in candle-making classes.

“We’re excited to be on Front Street for more exposure and foot traffic and to be in the heart of downtown during summer especially,” says owner Ida-Sofia Koivuniemi. “Our new store space has some extra room, and the space is going to be the perfect layout for our candle-making experience. We’re going to be taking more walk-ins at our new location.”

Also in Warehouse MRKT, new bookstore Artemis Books & Goods is planning a grand opening on May 30 after a soft launch in February. The store has gradually been building out its inventory and layout, with the owners inviting the public to come “check out our new shelves, new books, and new goods, share your hopes for the store's future, and enjoy everything your new local bookstore has to offer.”

Across the street from Warehouse MRKT, Hotel Indigo is planning to kick off its summer season by reopening the H&L Social rooftop bar this Friday at 3pm. “Your favorite bartenders are back behind the bar, the cocktails are flowing, the fire tables are glowing, and the views over West Bay are as incredible as ever,” the hotel posted this week. The Delamar will also soon open its waterfront patio bar, with the East Front Street hotel listing a targeted launch date of May 22.

Just down the street, new restaurant Umbo is planning to open its doors this weekend at 430 East Front Street. Detroit restaurant veterans Cameron Rolka and Sarah Welch (a Top Chef finalist) relocated to northern Michigan and have been preparing for the last year to open the space, making extensive renovations and hosting a series of local pop-ups. Umbo is still waiting on its liquor license from the state, so the owners are holding off on launching dinner service until their beverage program is ready to go. In the meantime, Umbo will open for lunch service – starting this Saturday and Sunday and then operating Friday-Monday 11am-3pm beginning May 22.

“You can expect the usual cast of characters on the menu (oysters, tinned fish, lobster roll) plus a lunch pre-fixe AND a couple daily specials if Cameron Rolka is feeling frisky,” the owners posted. “We are taking our Michigan wine excitement and funneling the same energy into a really playful non-alcoholic beverage program at lunch. Think tepache, amaro spritzes, a roster of cool bubbly stuff, and iced coffee.” Umbo will have indoor bar seating only (no tables), with plans to expand into outdoor patio service by July 1. To-go orders will be available on a case-by-case basis. Umbo is accepting phone-only reservations now at 231-944-2797. Fifty percent of seats will be held back for walk-in business with an in-person waitlist available.

Nearby at 441 East Front Street Suite #2 (next to Peace, Love, and Little Donuts), new retail boutique Obscura Jewelry and Curiosities is opening May 30. The store from Ansel and Caitlin Bowden – who also own Sanctuary Goods and Underground Toys in the Mercato at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons – will offer “uncommon gifts, distinctive home décor, handcrafted jewelry, and other artisan-made items.” While a few customer favorites from Sanctuary Goods will appear at Obscura, most of the inventory will be unique to the new store, according to the Bowdens.

Finally, at 516 East Front Suite B, private gym Uki Gym has been building a following as “Traverse City’s first gym on Front Street.” The business specializes in sessions with 1-4 clients at a time with a private trainer, as well as open gym sessions for visitors. “Uki is comprised of highly experienced trainers,” according to the company’s website. “Strength is the focus, with roots of yoga. Clients pay top dollar and receive top service. Results are maximized.” Uki Gym also highlights its unique workout setting featuring abundant plants and an “upscale Japanese punk rock” aesthetic.

Other local restaurant/retail news…
After initially planning a summer 2025 launch, new restaurant The Hammered Heifer is now planning to open this Friday at 15273 Honor Highway in the space formerly held by Rich’s Roadside Café and Paige’s Roadside Market & Pizza. Mogen McCallister – son of Hofbrau owner Brian McCallister and a Hofbrau employee for over a decade – is planning to serve up smash burgers, empanadas, and “many other sides and fried goodies” at the restaurant, which will have “a large patio and outdoor area with fire pits, lawn games, and other indoor games like pinball,” he says. Eventual planned hours are seven days a week from 11am to midnight, though the restaurant will close a little earlier in the near term until its liquor license comes through, according to McCallister.

Michigan furniture and mattress retailer Gardner White is planning a May 21 grand opening of its new Traverse City store at 1775 Oak Hollow Drive (formerly Value City Furniture). The company will offer both designer brands and budget-friendly options in the 63,400-square-foot space, according to a company release, and will provide same-day and nighttime delivery.

Cherry Country Café and Gift Shop has unveiled a newly renovated space inside Cherry Capital Airport. The café recently underwent major upgrades that will offer more room, better customer flow, new fixtures and amenities, and improved display cases for it’s a variety of Michigan products and souvenirs. The business posted that more offerings – like seating – are on the way, but the café is open and ready for the public in the meantime.

Finally, De Food Truck has reopened for the season – but this time in a new location due to the road construction in Interlochen. The popular food truck, which focuses on organic, 100 percent gluten-free ingredients, will be located at the Mesick roundabout at 4554 M-37. Chef Jake Elsenheimer, who purchased the truck last fall from original owner Toby Dunne, posted that he’ll be maintaining hours of Thursday-Monday 11am-8pm, staying open until 9pm on Friday and Saturday.

Pictured (clockwise from left): My Secret Stash, Hotel Indigo H&L Social, Obscura Jewelry and Curiosities, Cherry Country Café and Gift Shop, Umbo