Workshop Brewing, Rico’s Cafe For Sale; More Restaurant, Retail News

Two popular local institutions have hit the market, with the owners of both The Workshop Brewing Company and Rico’s Café and Pizzeria looking for the right buyers to take over their operations. Plus, two new businesses are coming to Front Street, a new Gill-Roy’s store has opened in Grawn, and several other companies are on the move in The Ticker’s latest look at restaurant and retail news.

Workshop Brewing, Rico’s Café For Sale
Individuals looking to get into the craft brewery and/or restaurant business have two turnkey opportunities available in the Traverse City area. Owner Pete Kirkwood is putting The Workshop Brewing Company – which has operated on Garland Street in the Warehouse District in downtown Traverse City for over a decade – up for sale. The company also includes sister location Kingsley Local Brewing, which opened in 2023. In addition to craft beer, cider, and wine, Workshop received its small distiller’s license earlier this year, which allows it to serve cocktails and sell bottled spirits at both locations.

“An established, fully staffed turnkey restaurant/brewery/distillery/cultural venue right in downtown TC, plus a satellite taproom with gorgeous beer garden in a rapidly growing village right up the road? That’s a rare opportunity for the right buyer,” says Kirkwood. A deal would be to buy the business only, not the real estate, but Kirkwood notes that both locations have “long, secure leases with preferential rents and rights of first refusal to purchase the buildings in which they operate.”

Kirkwood sees three types of potential buyers, starting with someone looking to get a head start on or break into the craft beer scene. “Somebody like me fifteen years ago,” he says. Another prospect would be a Northern Michigan hospitality group looking to add downtown TC and suburban Kingsley locations to its portfolio, while a third could be an “established brewery/restaurant outfit from downstate or out-of-state aiming to establish an Up North Michigan presence,” says Kirkwood.

Kirkwood says a lot of variables could affect a final price – such as possible debt assumption – and has listed the business for $150,000 as a “starting point for a conversation.” Kirkwood says he’s open to creative financing and “motivated to accommodate the needs of the right buyer,” adding that the “most important thing is that this awesome community institution continue. The upside for me is secondary.” He knows a new buyer “will probably want the venture to reflect their own personality,” but hopes the business will “continue to honor the company’s community values” and maintain the current staff.

“It’s fun to do craft for a living, and to provide camaraderie and culture to a community,” Kirkwood says. “But after more than ten years at it, it’s time for me to hand over the reins.”

Rico’s Café and Pizzeria owner Rick Dubro is similarly on the hunt for a community-minded buyer to continue his business legacy. Dubro and his wife Lori have operated the Grawn restaurant since 1996, with the business starting out as Papa J’s & Roosters Chicken before it was renovated into the full-service Rico’s in 1998. Dubro has been in the restaurant business for almost 50 years and says he’s ready for retirement.

“I’m ready to hang up my spatula,” he chuckles. The business has been quietly listed for an extensive time period, but the owners just recently publicly announced on Facebook they’re seeking a buyer. The business – including the real estate and liquor license – is currently listed at $699,000 with Traverse Real Estate. Dubro says he’s hoping to find a local buyer who’s interested in maintaining the current Rico’s model, including its popular ethnic months from September to March that feature month-long Greek, Italian, German, Polish, and other specialty menus.

“That’s really what’s been keeping our restaurant busy,” Dubro says. “We don’t rely on the tourists. We rely on the locals. It comes with a great crew, so my best-case scenario is to keep it as close as possible to what it is now. It’s worked for 29 years.”

More restaurant and retail news...
Two businesses are opening their doors in 2025 in downtown Traverse City. Surfaces is planning a spring opening in the West End Lofts building on West Front Street. A company representative tells The Ticker the 3,400-square-foot space will sell specialty art supplies and offer a public open art studio. Customers can rent monthly lockers to store their art supplies and have a “a nice, quiet place to work,” as well as gallery space to sell their finished artwork, the representative says. Gallery displays will rotate monthly. Surfaces will also host group paint parties and other classes and events.

Down the road, Contigo Dogs – currently located in the Mercato at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons – is moving into a new store space at 324 East Front Street. The company, owned by Stephanie Dehn, will offer dog and cat food, an expanded selection of pet-oriented and other small business products, and a dog gym and dedicated activity room, according to a store sign. The new location is scheduled to open in January. Dehn posted on Instagram that Contigo Dogs’ last day of business in Building 50 will be December 28.

Hardware store Gill-Roy’s Got It! has opened a new location at 7155 Scotchwood Lane in Grawn. The company now has 40 stores – predominantly in Michigan – including locations in Traverse City, Fife Lake, and Elk Rapids. The “one-stop home improvement store” carries a wide range of electrical, paint, plumbing, tools, and other products, with all stores open seven days a week Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.

Also in Grawn, local outdoor store TCH Gear is planning a 6,000-square-foot expansion of its space at 1899 Rogers Road. The company posted on Facebook it’s submitted a building permit application for the addition, with 3,000 square feet of new downstairs space planned to host classrooms for “firearms, fishing, trapping, hunting, CCW, and other classes.” A 20-yard video 3D archery range and dark room for testing out night vision and storage could also be coming, with the main level planned to “expand the gun and archery department, more apparel, and room to get a cart through and set up blinds and fishing shanties,” the business posted.

Table 12 Coffee House is closing its doors at 3211 North Garfield Road. The company’s last day of business will be Saturday (December 14), with final hours this week of Monday-Friday 7am-4pm and Saturday 8am-noon. Management posted that Table 12 gift cards/rewards will still be honored after its closure at its “sister store” Espresso Bay in downtown Traverse City. Also on Garfield, consignment furniture and home decor store REclecTia will host its last day of business Saturday. “After decades of fun service to the community consigning and selling your eclectic one-of-a-kind items, it’s time to start a new chapter,” the company wrote on Facebook. Most of the store’s inventory is 50 percent off this week as part of a closing sale.

Finally, the Village Cafe & Ice Cream Shop has opened its doors at 111 South Brownson Avenue in Kingsley. The shop features coffee from Roaster Jack Coffee Company, an espresso bar, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, soups and salads, and hand-dipped ice cream. Cafe hours are Monday-Thursday 7am-4pm, Friday 7am-7pm, and Saturday 8am-4pm (closed Sunday). Also in Kingsley, retail store Redefined is closing its main store at 100 West Main Street in Kingsley at the beginning of the year and consolidating operations at a second location at 116 East Main Street. The store is offering a moving sale in preparation for the transition, with posted hours of Wednesday-Friday 12pm-6pm.