A new trio of owners is taking over U&I Lounge – including long-time manager Brad Gray – with the goal of continuing the same laidback vibe and menu that’s made the bar a local favorite for almost a century. The Ticker has an inside look at the transition, plus other restaurant and retail news from across the region.

New Owners for U&I
Three men with local ties – including two with histories as U&I employees – have finalized a deal to buy the establishment from long-time owner Stan Burke.

Brad Gray, Troy Buttleman, and Mark Bosco closed on the purchase of U&I Lounge on December 18. Buttleman and Bosco also purchased the building. That means – amid a market in which several restaurants have departed downtown due to escalating rents – U&I “is not going to get priced out,” Buttleman says firmly.

A familiar face behind the bar for almost two decades, Gray started as a part-time bartender in 2006. He soon graduated to full-time, then became manager in 2010 – a position he’s held ever since. “I feel like I’ve given this place some of the best years of my life,” he says. “The relationships with staff and patrons, it’s been such a cool thing to be part of. It has such a neighborhood feel to it. I’ve been part of it for so long that I worried if someone else were to buy it and didn’t have any ties to the place, they might just knock it down or turn it into a short-term rental.”

Burke – who bought U&I Lounge in 1993 from John Batsakis, whose father Pete Batsakis founded the establishment in the 1930s – told Gray he was looking to sell, but didn’t want to put U&I on the open market. Buttleman, who worked the door at U&I 30 years ago when he was in college, encouraged Gray to buy the restaurant. Bosco, a part-time Omena resident, also joined the discussions. While it took some time to hammer out the details, the trio eventually reached a deal with Burke to purchase the restaurant together.

“I grew up here, so I lived in Traverse City my entire life,” Buttleman says. “This has always been the place the locals go to. You always knew what you were going to get, including good food and a great drink. I wanted to help them continue the tradition. Mark and I would not have done it without Brad. His expertise and long-term management certainly provided a comfort level for us.”

Gray, 46, says that – like other U&I Lounge owners before him – he intends to be in it for the long haul. “Our goal is to carry this thing as long as we can,” he says. And while the bar might receive some efficiency upgrades – updated computer systems, for instance – Gray doesn’t intend to mess with the formula that’s made U&I successful for decades. “We’re not looking to change anything, I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel,” he says. “We love it the way it is. The original owners' philosophy was they wanted people to feel like they were sitting in their living room. That’s what I want to carry on – the legacy that Stan and the Batsakis family kept rolling.”

Other restaurant and retail news...
Park Street Café has closed its doors on Park Street in downtown Traverse City. “After five amazing years of breakfast burritos and countless smiling faces, we're making a transition to focus on the growth at The Tasting Room restaurant,” the owners posted, referring to their other establishment on Garland Street. “The incredible support from our community has made The Tasting Room such a success that we've decided to pour all our energy into creating even more memorable dining experiences there.”

Across the street at 120 Park Street – where Fresh Coast Beer Works  recently closed its doors – the brewery building has been listed on the market for $1.35 million. The Twin Bay Properties listing touts a 7,392-square-foot lot with minimum setbacks and no required parking that could be revived as another brewery or repurposed into a restaurant, retail store, office building, or other redevelopment.

Around the corner at 303 East State Street (the former Scalawags space), new restaurant India Garden has announced a January 8 opening. The restaurant promises to “bring the authentic flavors of India to your table” with staples like butter chicken, biryani, tandoori tikka, samosas, vindaloo, and more. Also downtown, tote and accessory shop Sea Bags has closed its doors on Front Street, with the TC location scrubbed from the company’s website. Further down Front, plans for Mundos 305 to launch wine service in collaboration with MAWBY and expand its food program into dinner service have been put on hold. Owner Dan Clark tells The Ticker the business “got word that wine service at Mundos 305 will not be approved by the MLCC (Michigan Liquor Control Commission) anytime soon,” though he remains hopeful approval could happen down the road.

Ann Arbor lifestyle boutique Bohmey has announced it’s opening a new store in the Mercato at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. “While our Ann Arbor store will continue to offer the same products and brands you love, our new Traverse City location will focus more on home decor and lifestyle, while still keeping a selection of your favorite bestselling beauty brands,” the company posted on Facebook. An official opening is planned for February 8. Also new to the area is 24/7 Golf, which recently opened its doors in Acme in the former Kmart building. The company offers 24/7 indoor golf simulators with online reservations, summer and winter memberships, and fall and spring leagues. 24/7 Golf is also working toward opening a second location in the Cherryland Center.

Just in time to fulfill those New Year’s resolutions, two new fitness-related companies are coming online. Hot Yoga Grand Traverse has opened at 517 South Union Street featuring Hot/Bikram Yoga and Yoga ShapeShifting classes, plus a fresh juice program from Traverse City Juice Co. Form Modern Pilates – specializing in 50-minute XFormer high-intensity, low-impact classes – will launch January 13 at 1201 East Front Street (Unit B) in Campus Plaza. All 10 instructors are XFormer Academy-certified, with classes planned Monday-Thursday 6am-7:30pm, Friday 6am-1pm, and Saturday-Sunday 7-11am.

Finally, two area businesses have closed their doors. After 14 years in business, owner Sue Kurta announced she was ending Boss Mouse Cheese at the end of 2024. “I am deeply grateful to the community, farmers markets, and wholesale customers who have supported my mighty little cheese company through the years,” she wrote. The company’s famous smoked butter will still be available from Grand Traverse Sauce Company, which is taking over its production and sales. Noble Roman’s – an Indiana-based pizza franchise which opened in mid-2024 in the former Papa Johns space on South Airport Road – has also closed.