Brasserie Amie Closing/New Concept Coming, Loco Boys Brewing Company Opening, More Restaurant/Retail News

After two years at the corner of Front and Cass streets, Brassiere Amie will close its doors at the end of this month. A new concept is set to take over the space in early 2023, led by the same owners and staff. Meanwhile, on West Front Street, new brewery and restaurant Loco Boys Brewing Company is targeting a January opening. The Ticker has the latest details on these and other restaurant and retail updates from across the region.

Brasserie Amie
New Year’s Eve will be the final day of service at Brasserie Amie, the Parisian-style restaurant that opened in late 2020 in the former Franklin space in downtown Traverse City (pictured). Jason Thibodeau and Rob Lindsay of The Parlor, who partnered with Eric Fritch of Patisserie Amie to open Brasserie Amie, say a combination of factors are contributing to the restaurant’s closure. Those include lingering impacts from the pandemic, labor shortages, and rising inflation and food costs.

“Everything that makes up French food went through the roof,” explains Thibodeau, including eggs, milk, cheese, flour, and sugar. Adds Lindsay: “It’s not fair to raise our menu prices anymore. French food is expensive to make. We want to be able to have a more affordable price point for the menu.” The partners say that North Bar TC – a separate concept that operates upstairs – and The Parlor are both running successfully and will remain open.

Meanwhile, Brasserie Amie is set to be converted to a new concept. Lindsay says more details will be unveiled in January, but calls the new concept – accompanied by the rollout of an entirely new interior and décor – more “approachable and community-oriented.” The staff from Brasserie Amie will remain employed and part of the new establishment. Fritch is also preparing to launch his own food truck called Le Petit Amie, according to the owners.

For those looking to squeeze in a farewell brunch or dinner, Brassiere Amie is accepting reservations now through December 31. On New Year’s Eve, the restaurant – positioned directly in front of the CherryT Ball Drop – will stay open until midnight, with cocktail and champagne service after dinner. Lindsay says the partners plan to get immediately to work in January converting the space over to the new concept.

Loco Boys Brewing Company
After more than a year of supply and construction delays that have impacted numerous projects across the industry, Pangea’s Pizza and Incredible Mo’s owner Chris Mohrhardt – along with his brother and business partner Mike Mohrhardt – are preparing to open Loco Boys Brewing Company at 901 West Front Street. The brothers are targeting a January opening for the 3,800-square-foot microbrewery and restaurant, which will occupy the historic building formerly home to Impres Salon Spa and the original Oleson's Grocery store. 

The Mohrhardts are bringing on Andy Largent – whose resume includes brewing experience at The Filling Station Microbrewery, Stormcloud Brewing Company, and Right Brain Brewery – to oversee the brewing program. The company will produce its own craft beer, seltzers, ciders, and wine for on-site consumption, with to-go sales eventually planned for beer and possibly other beverages. For the food program, the brothers have landed Chef Bryon Figueroa – of Fig's Breakfast & Lunch and Northport Pub & Grille fame – to oversee the menu. “We’re doing a really great authentic Mexican menu,” says Mike Mohrhardt. “He’s creating some great dishes with big flavors and a little spice. We’re really excited.”

Mike Mohrhardt says the interior – which can accommodate just under 100 – will have a “light, airy, California vibe” with a Spanish-style flair. An outdoor patio is also planned for warm-weather months. “It’s quite spacious inside,” he says. “There’s a nice flow between the interior and exterior spaces.” The brothers have just begun ramping up hiring and are looking at a five-day week to start – including lunch service on the weekends – with the potential to expand to six or seven days by summer. The building is also home to ten business studios in the back, with nine of those occupied by former or newly acquired tenants and one still on the market.

Other business openings, closings, and moves…
Outdoor enthusiasts will have a new way to enjoy the northern Michigan scenery this summer. Wheels on Rails, founded by Macie Hefron, is targeting a Memorial Day week launch to offer rail biking excursions in northern Michigan. The company will offer six-mile round trips – down and back – on custom bikes outfitted to ride on top of old railroad tracks. Wheels on Rails will operate off US-31 in Grawn Township on a privately owned out-of-service rail line. There is no train traffic, and the rail line is disconnected from any active track, according to the company’s website. Tandem bikes are available for two guests, or quad bikes fit a group of four (larger groups can also be accommodated). Wheels on Rails is booking outings now for 2023.

Owner James Brewington has launched a new late-night food delivery service for night owls in the Traverse City area. Open Late Kitchen operates Thursday-Saturday from 10pm-3am serving up “simple, homemade comfort food from scratch,” Brewington says. “We worked third shift before, and wanted a late-night food option that the whole family could afford and that workers who were up late in this area could also enjoy/afford.” The menu includes options such as sandwiches, wraps, sliders, salads, gourmet chicken strips, and sides including tots and mac-and-cheese bowls. The company takes orders online and by phone at 231-590-9055 and delivers in a five-mile radius around Traverse City, from Acme to Long Lake to Greilickville to Chums Corner. Open Late Kitchen will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, according to Brewington.

Coffee lovers have three new options to choose from in the Traverse City area. Mundos has opened its new headquarters at the corner of Garfield Avenue and Boon Street, moving into the spacious 11,000-square-foot digs and closing its former smaller location at Boon and Woodmere. The new headquarters will not only offer expanded storage, roastery, and kitchen space to serve all four Mundos locations but also allow for on-site classes, tours, and cuppings – the industry term for coffee tastings. At the Cherryland Center, Biggby Coffee officially opened a new drive-thru location last week adjacent to Burger King along South Airport Road. And in Elk Rapids, Happy Camper Coffee Co – which started in a pop-up trailer – has opened a new brick-and-mortar shop at 212 River Street. The truck is expected to continuing operating separately during warm-weather months.

Bohmey Beauty – which has locations in Adrian and Ann Arbor – has opened a new Traverse City location in Warehouse MRKT between Hexenbelle and Handz on Art. The company specializes in “clean and conscious” products, including clothing, beauty and lifestyle collections, according to its website. “We take care to research each product, so you can succeed on your own journey towards a more conscious and ethically-minded lifestyle,” the website states. “Our shop reflects both contemporary style and progressive ideals, and we eagerly work with brands who do the same.”

The Little Fleet has launched a winter series of pop-up restaurants called Kitchen Takeover in the Happy’s Taco Space on some Mondays and Tuesdays when Happy’s isn’t open. Upcoming pop-up concepts will include The Fatted Calf (January 16/17), Fried Chicken and Caviar (January 23/24), and Sister Cindy’s Tamales (January 30/31). The Little Fleet is also hosting Charles & Reid Detroit Pizza  for “Slice Night” (a slice and a drink for $6) on Tuesdays and is continuing its popular Soup and Bread series, where local restaurants donate soup and customers pay what they can – all to benefit local charities. Upcoming Soup and Bread events are on January 9 (benefiting the Reproductive Access Fund), February 6 (benefiting the National Alliance of Mental Health), and March 6 (benefiting TCAPS Student Support).

Art & Soul Gallery has found a new home after finishing a 20-year run this fall in the Arcade on Front Street. Owner Amy Staffan-Hess originally planned to move the shop to Savannah, Georgia, but has since secured a new Traverse City location. Art & Soul Gallery has relocated to 3311 South Airport Road inside Northwoods Printers & PakMail Traverse City. The store is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and select Saturdays 11am-3pm.

New sushi restaurant The Dojo opened December 5 in the Long Lake Culinary Campus at 7738 North Long Lake Road. Owned and operated by Brent Shafer, who has over a decade of sushi experience, The Dojo is open Monday-Friday 10am-6pm and also offers catering services and private parties, according to a company release.

Brooklyn’s Pepperoni Rolls in Logan’s Landing has expanded to add lunch service Thursday-Saturday, with the restaurant now opening at 11am on those days and offering new menu items including subs with organic homemade buns baked fresh daily. The company will also soon be restarting delivery service to local breweries that allow outside food. While the owners posted earlier this fall that they were looking to sell the business, family members stepped up to help operations – with the company no longer for sale, the owners tell The Ticker.

Timothy Hefty and Dan Karabacz of downtown Traverse City pizza shop Charles & Reid Detroit Pizza have launched a new food concept at Silver Spruce Brewing Company. Bull & Bear Kitchen operates inside the brewery Tuesday-Thursday 1pm-8pm and Friday-Saturday 12pm-8pm, with menu offerings including a steak-and-cheese Philly-style sandwich, burgers, grilled cheese, pulled pork, and more.

The Men’s Emporium and Women’s Emporium have relocated from Eighth Street to new digs at 219 Cass Street. The stores specialize in vintage and retro clothing, classic accessories, home bar commodities, and more. Posted hours are Monday 12pm-5pm and Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm.

National franchise Board & Brush has opened a new Traverse City location at 1326 West South Airport Road. The company, which held a grand opening December 9, offers “a place for creating fun and unique wood decor projects from scratch while enjoying a fun instructor-led atmosphere,” according to its website. Date nights, ladies’ nights, and parent-child workshops are among some of the classes offered, with bookings now available into February.