New Shops, Eateries Around Traverse City

It’s time again for another spotlight on businesses that recently have opened their doors around town. Catch up on what’s new with this latest Ticker business round-up:

Journease Travel & Mojo Nutrition
New agency Journease Travel opened this week in the River Front Plaza building at 313 E. Front, Ste. 104 (across from the downtown parking deck) in Traverse City. Owned by travel industry veteran Tammy Ensman, the new agency offers leisure, group, meetings, and spring break planning and bookings; no fees associated with most services. It can be reached at 231-313-5396. Alongside her travel business, Ensman will open Mojo Nutrition, an Herbalife Nutrition Club, on Sept. 25. It will offer meal replacement shakes, as well as a product line offering nutritional supplements, sports nutrition, vitamins and weight-loss solutions. Open: Mon. – Sat., 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. (after 3 p.m. by appointment).

Bay Town Kitchen (soon to be MI Grille)
Chef Keil Moshier of Patisserie Amie and his wife, Kristina Weidenfeller, have opened Bay Town Kitchen at 420 Munson Ave. in Traverse City, the former location of The Cottage Café (now located at 472 Munson). The couple retains 50-percent ownership in the French bistro on Lake Avenue. First opened in July, the new restaurant is currently undergoing renovations (while open). When complete it will re-open as MI Grille: Think ’50s retro diner with a little industrial thrown in.

Moshier says he had been looking for an opportunity to expand his restaurant company when the Days Inn approached him last year about opening a restaurant in the space vacated by The Cottage Café. Because he wanted to be open for summer traffic, the renovation was delayed until this fall. The menu is “basic diner style, with an upscale twist” and a heavy focus on Michigan products, says Moshier. A BLT sandwich comes on homemade bread with thick-cut, slab-style bacon, heirloom tomatoes and mixed greens. The Smoked Brisket Hash is served with fried eggs and pickled red onions. Breakfasts start at $6, lunch $8, and dinner $15. Beer, wine and spirits will be available soon. MI Grille also will offer a banquet facility, outdoor seating and a retail store for Michigan products, including beer and wine. 
Open: Mon. – Sun., 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Note: Bay Town will be closed for a couple of weeks in October for final renovations.) 231-932-9330.

Back Around Again
A new children’s resale shop has opened at 512 W. 14th St. (just east of Division) in Traverse City. It offers gently used and new clothing from newborn to size 14 and also has a small maternity section, says Michelle Schueller, who owns the business with her husband, Craig. Back Around Again also sells toys, accessories and furniture. The store is currently buying items for its ever-changing inventory. Find them also on Facebook.
Open: Mon., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tues. – Fri., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 231-929-3575.

The Cottage Moon
The Cottage Moon, a boutique home furnishings business, has opened at 531 E. Eighth Street, formerly occupied by Holland’s Nest (which has moved to the Warehouse Marketplace). Offering a mix of cottage, vintage and industrial wares, the shop is a mix of old and new furnishings and decor. Carol Buckel, who used to own an interior design firm in Midland, is the shop’s owner. 
Open: Tues. – Fri., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun., Noon to 4 p.m. 231-933-4847

Michigan Farm Market 
An all-Michigan products business, Michigan Farm Market mifarmmarket.com, recently celebrated the opening of it second location – but first in Traverse City – at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons (Suite 10 in The Mercato). The Ellsworth-based business owned by Scotty Bruce and family first started two years ago as an e-commerce company shipping Michigan-made food products in its own handmade crates around the county. Last year it opened an order fulfillment and retail location in Ellsworth. 
Open: Mon. – Thurs., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fri. – Sat., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sun., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 866-544-1088

And … Did You Know?
Traverse City’s Allure Salon has moved from its Union Street location to 300 E. Front Street, Ste. 101. Owned by Shelly and Bob Derrer, the salon can be reached at 231-946-9666. And just a few doors down the block, The Chocolate Den has closed up shop. The space at 324 E. Front is currently for lease. 

GT Bagel & Bakery, which was located at 726 Munson Ave. in East Bay Plaza – home to Dunham’s Sports and Joanne Fabrics – is closed. But developer Tom Mcintyre tells The Ticker a new tenant is on board to open in the vacant space and an adjacent space – occupying a total of 5,500 square feet, in December. Although he says he can’t yet reveal the name of the coming tenant, that tenant’s opening will bring the plaza’s occupancy rate to 100-percent. Claudia DeMarco, owner of GT Bagel & Bakery, tells The Ticker that the bakery on Barlow Street (not open to the public) will remain open, and its bagels, breads and other confections are still available at local Glen’s Markets, Maxbauer and Deering’s Market on Barlow. Want to request a particular bagel? Call the bakery at 231-947-0337, and they’ll have it waiting for you at the store of your choice.