New Pickleball Facility Opens, Downtown Restaurant/Retail Changes Underway, More Biz Updates

A new pickleball facility has opened its doors in Acme, multiple restaurant and retail changes are underway in downtown Traverse City, and other businesses are on the move in The Ticker’s latest look at local openings, closings, and moves.

Pickle U
Building on growing participation – locally and nationally – in the sport of pickleball, a new indoor pickleball facility has opened in Acme.

Pickle U officially opened Saturday in Oak Shore Commons, the new mixed-use development by Strathmore Real Estate Group on the former Kmart property on US-31. The 16,000-square-foot facility has eight indoor pickleball courts, rental equipment, a pro shop (Pickle U is a licensed dealer for Selkirk), and a ball machine that allows players to practice alone. Owner Dave Sexton, who’s originally from the South, outfitted three courts in SEC team colors, three courts in Big Ten colors (representing the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Ohio State University), and two courts in TC West High and Central High colors.

“We’re hoping to get involved with the athletic directors of the school system in the area and have boys and girls pickleball,” says Sexton, noting the sport is starting to take off in college athletics in addition to recreational play. Pickle U is offering both open play and group play on its courts, with drop-ins and reservations welcome (231-486-5250). Rates are $7/person for one hour of open play or $28/court for one hour and $50/court for two hours of group play (up to six people).

Pickle U will be open six days a week – Monday-Saturday – from 8am to 8pm. The facility will offer an intro class for beginners with certified instructors on January 18 from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Anyone who plays at or visits the facility before Friday will be entered into a drawing for a two-hour court reservation on the Michigan court in honor of Michigan’s championship win this week. Sexton, who is relatively new to pickleball himself in recent years, says the facility has seen steady traffic since opening. “We’ve had quite a response already, and I think it’s only going to grow from here,” he says.

Downtown Traverse City Updates
A small space that’s hosted a roster of illustrious eateries over the years at 439 East Front Street – including The Cooks’ House, Patisserie Amie, Nine Bean Rows, Georgina’s, and Zest – has a new tenant. Chubby Unicorn, which started in 2022 as a food truck (well, technically a bus) has opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the space. Owner Justin Chouinard, who cut his teeth working at Bubba’s for 15 years, is now serving up his specialty paninis, soups, and salads Monday-Friday 11am-3pm at the eatery, which has an updated interior and can accommodate 14 sit-down guests in addition to takeout orders.

“One of the things that sets my paninis apart is I butter and season the top of every sandwich to complement everything that’s in the sandwich,” Chouinard says. “People get a kick out of that. I use all Louie’s Meats in the paninis.” In addition to menu staples like the French’s Dip, Caprese Chicken, Millionaire Turkey, and The Only Veg (a vegetarian panini with curry-roasted vegetables), Chubby Unicorn has a “Flavors of the Week” board featuring a rotating panini, soup, and salad special each week.

“We’re really trying to hit it home with the lunch crowd,” Chouinard says. “We’re trying to get offices in the habit of knowing they can order a large amount of sandwiches from us at the drop of a hat.” More is still to come – Chouinard hints the eatery is planning “something snazzy” for the adjacent outdoor lawn area once summer hits.

Also on East Front Street, Compass Rose Outpost has announced it will close its doors at the end of this month. “Going into 2024, we’re choosing to focus our energy towards our other business venture, Ambush Candle Co,” the owners wrote on Facebook. “We’re excited to offer occasional events and workshops at our candle warehouse, and we hope to welcome many of you there.” The store is offering sales and a final chance to use gift cards through January. Meanwhile, Lakes and Grapes – which previously had space in the back of Compass Rose Outpost – announced it is taking over the entire 2,040-square-foot store. “Get ready for more Lakes and Grapes products, expanded athleisure wear collections, a wider array of home goods, and the introduction of exciting new product lines,” the company posted. The store will close at the end of the month for a few weeks of renovations, followed by a grand reopening in February.

Just around the corner, Full Send Ramen is setting up shop in The Coin Slot parking lot for the  “foreseeable future,” according to owner Daniel Mabie. Coming off a popular month-long residency at The Little Fleet, Full Send Ramen will offer up multiple ramen options and bao made fresh daily and folded by hand. The truck is targeting a January 20 opening, Mabie says. Hours and days will vary to start, but can be found on the truck’s Instagram page.

Also downtown: After vacating the Arcade and opening a US-31 location, 2nd Level Boardshop is moving back downtown to open a store in the former Roth Shirt Co. space at 155 East Front Street. Owner Shane Jackson says the company plans to “offer the community a wide range of active lifestyle options.” Jackson posted this week that he hopes to open the downtown store Saturday, though that could be delayed. In the Warehouse District, Rough Pony – which recently changed hands – will close the week of February 12-16 for a rebrand and reopen afterward as Water Bearer Coffee, according to new owner Azure Klug. Finally, Seven Monks Taproom has been closed since the new year for a 10-day kitchen revamp. The business plans to reopen this weekend.

Other local openings, closings, and moves...
> Rhythm Fit, a new 2,000-square-foot boutique fitness studio, has opened its doors at 1030 Hastings Street (Suite 150). Owned by former professional dancer and certified personal trainer Emily Fine, the studio specializes in 45-minute TRAIN classes incorporating strength training and functional fitness exercises using dumbbells and other resistance equipment. Class schedules and pricing are available online.

> The B2 Outlet Store has closed its doors in the Cherryland Center next to Plato’s Closet. According to a post from the franchise’s owners, “the challenges and complexities of navigating a sluggish retail economy has resulted in significant declined sales. This has impacted nearly every retailer, and B2 is not immune. We have pivoted with various creative ways to drive foot traffic, yet a turnaround has not occurred. Although closing stores is never an easy decision, B2 has reached that point where closing a small number of stores is imperative.” Also at the Cherryland Center, Habibi Middle Eastern Coney & Curry has closed its doors at the mall and relocated to a new spot in East Bay Plaza at 720 Munson Avenue (Suite A).

> Two new businesses have opened in the Grand Traverse Mall. Coffee Corner has launched in the food court “offering coffee, hot cocoa, specialty drinks, baked goods, hamburgers, and sandwiches,” according to a mall post. Sonnys Shoe Store – which specializes in “stylish clothing and sneakers” and has several downstate locations – also recently opened in the mall.

> NoBo Mrkt in the Commongrounds Cooperative building on Eighth Street has officially received its liquor license, allowing it to operate a full bar and launch a weekend brunch with cocktails. The business is now open Monday-Friday 7am-10pm and Saturday-Sunday 8am-10pm, with weekend brunch from 9am-2pm.

> Finally, two new tailor/clothing repair options are coming online in Traverse City. Slip.Vintage will host the first in a series of planned fitting day/tailoring pop-ups from NoMi Sew Co. this Saturday from 1pm to 4pm. The first-come, first-served event offers on-site fittings and allows up to three garments for tailoring per person with a two-week turnaround (rates vary by service, details here). In The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, The Refillery is launching a new mending studio called Renewed Rags offering drop-off services for hole patching, button attachments, hem shortening, and more (details here).

Photo credit: Pickle U