NoBo Mrkt is reopening this week with a new name, concept, and menu, multiple businesses previously previewed by The Ticker have officially opened their doors – including K1 Speed, Silver Spruce Brewing’s Silver Lake location, TJ Maxx’s new store, and Sweet Tartlette – and Traverse City’s dining options are expanding in The Ticker’s latest look at local restaurant and retail news.

NoBo Riverside Food & Drink
After closing its doors for a month, NoBo Mrkt will reopen Friday with a new name, concept, and menu in the Commongrounds building on Eighth Street. The new NoBo Riverside Food & Drink will offer a “dynamic blend of casual café vibes by day and an energetic culinary hotspot by night,” according to a company release, with a revamped menu running from breakfast to dinner. The business will offer exclusive blends from Higher Grounds, evening bar service, and “signature dishes that cater to foodies and casual diners alike,” the release states.

Juicy Oistre – which had a successful run this summer as a food truck at The Little Fleet – will take over NoBo’s resident food stall and anchor the dinner menu. The company specializes in both raw and grilled seafood, including fresh and grilled oysters, ceviche, peel-and-eat shrimp, lobster rolls, and fried fish sandwiches. NoBo is also debuting a pop-up chef series starting with Nate Brown of Flint, who will kick off the grand reopening weekend with a “menu deeply rooted in Creole and Caribbean traditions.”

Executive Chef Tony Vu of The Good Bowl is serving as the new executive director of NoBo Riverside Food & Drink. “We're thrilled to reopen NoBo and feature some of the finest culinary talent from across Michigan in our beautiful riverside setting,” he says. “Juicy Oistre is a prime example of the growth we love to see, evolving from pop-up to food truck, and now to a full food stall. We’re proud to support their growth and our entire chef community by offering a platform to present their incredible talents right here in Traverse City.”

Another significant tenant in the Commongrounds building is also planning a revamp. Coworking collective Commonplace is hosting an on-site event September 25 at 5pm to announce a rebranding. The organization humorously acknowledged recurring public mix-ups over its name in the invite. “Since the 2022 opening of our location in Commongrounds building, it's been, well...nonstop confusion,” the organization wrote. “Is it Commonwork Higherplace? Is it Groundplace Commonspace? Join us as we celebrate all the amazing humans of Commonplace past, present, and future. And join us as we unveil our exciting new name, logo, and mission.”

Business Openings
Several businesses previously previewed in The Ticker have officially opened their doors. Indoor go-kart racing center K1 Speed has started operating in the Cherryland Center, offering high-powered electric go-karts, an arcade, two private event rooms, and a café called the Paddock Lounge with food and drinks. A neighboring restaurant, bar, and nightclub called High Tops – owned by a separate operator – is currently under consideration for approval by the Garfield Township planning commission. Further down in the Cherryland Center, the Traverse City Philharmonic – formerly the Traverse Symphony Orchestra – officially moved into its new home this month in the former Kmart building. The first public performances in the Traverse City Philharmonic Center are scheduled to take place October 12 and 13 with Maestro Kevin Rhodes on piano.

Across town, TJ Maxx has officially opened its doors in its new location in the former Bed Bath & Beyond building off US-31 in Buffalo Ridge Center after leaving the Grand Traverse Mall. Also on the west side, Silver Spruce Brewing Company has launched its second Traverse City location on Silver Lake Road at the far end of the commercial market center that houses Francisco’s Market & Deli. Posted hours are Tuesday-Sunday 3pm-9pm, with brewery customers able to use a QR code menu to order from Francisco’s. In downtown Traverse City, Sweet Tartlette debuted a new brick-and-mortar storefront this weekend after closing on East Front Street in late 2021. The sweet shop is now located at 126 South Union and features cookies, cupcakes, Luna cakes, macarons, cheesecake by the slice, and more. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 11am-5:30pm and Saturday 10am-5pm.

More Restaurant and Retail News...
Olga’s Kitchen has launched a new “host kitchen” in the Traverse City market, serving up its popular Mediterranean food through a partnership with Big Boy. Customers can order menu items like Olgas (sandwiches) and Olga’s Snacks with the same ingredients as other Olga’s Kitchen locations. No dine-in service is available, but customers can place orders for carryout online or for delivery through Doordash.

Several local businesses are closing their doors. Classic Consignment will shut down in December after two-plus decades in business. The store has stopped accepting new consignments as it starts winding down operations. “After 22 incredible years, it is with mixed emotions that we announce the closure of Classic Consignment,” said store owner Maggie Dakoske in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for the support, enthusiasm, and loyalty we have received from our customers and the community. Your smiles and stories have truly been the highlight of our days.”

Enchanted Rustic Gifts also recently closed its doors in Fife Lake, citing a “lack of business” at the retail store. The company continues to offer custom orders for signs, benches, and other items. In the Grand Traverse Mall, bubble tea shop Bobaz has closed down, while RiteAid has closed all its Michigan stores – including its Traverse City locations – as part of recent bankruptcy proceedings.

More dining options are coming online for pizza fans in Traverse City. Nico's Pizza & Grinders recently opened in the former Mancino’s West Bay location on West Bay Shore Drive, serving up pizza, grinders, and more. The company also has a location in Kalkaska. Pizza franchise Cottage Inn Pizza – headquartered in Ann Arbor – is coming to northern Michigan with a new Traverse City location at 822 East Front Street. The company recently announced it will open later this year, posting on Facebook: “Get ready for fresh dough and gourmet goodness to be delivered to your doorstep!”

Several business changes are underway in Kingsley. The Ice Cream Nest recently wrapped up its residency inside Chickadees and is moving to 111 South Brownson Avenue (across the street from Papano’s Pizza) and will be reopening soon as The Village Cafe & Ice Cream Shop. The business will offer “a new and expanded menu including coffee by Roaster Jack Coffee Company, breakfast pastries and sandwiches, (and) lunch options including hot sandwiches, soups, salads, and more,” according to a Facebook post. Also on Brownson Avenue, bakery Trace Cakes Studio has officially opened its doors next to Papano’s Pizza, while Tammi Schmuckal and Tonya Arnold recently had a grand opening for T&T Floral at 104 South Brownson Avenue. The shop offers floral arrangements for weddings and funerals, corsages and boutonnieres, ready-to-go premade arrangements, potted plants and gifts, and monthly workshops starting in October.

Three local dining spots have announced hour changeups. NMC’s teaching restaurant, Lobdell’s, is reopening for the fall season Wednesday and will be open for lunch on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through December 5 on East Front Street. Lobdell’s will also host farm-to-table dinners on September 19, September 26, and October 3 with a prix fixe menu for $65 and an optional wine flight. Archie’s Social House, located on Lake Avenue, announced it is taking a “brief pause on dinner service to make a few exciting improvements.” The restaurant is still serving brunch seven days a week from 8am to 3pm and hosting trivia on Monday nights from 7pm to 9pm. Finally, Bardon’s Wonder Freeze has changed its hours to Thursday-Sunday 11:30am-8pm as it winds down for the season. Its final day open this year will be September 29.