Plans are taking shape at the State Street Marketplace opening soon in downtown Traverse City, the former G’s Pizzeria building is under new ownership, and Cherry Blossom 14 is set to come under the AMC umbrella in The Ticker’s latest look at local business openings, closings and expansions.

State Street Marketplace
As first reported by The Ticker in October, Michigan native Kevin O’Donnell has purchased the former Master Dry Cleaners at 329 East State Street with plans to convert the property into a ten-vendor marketplace and craft brewery (pictured). In the two months since State Street Marketplace was first announced, leasing agent Kevin Endres of Three West says nearly two dozen vendors have inquired about space in the new facility.

Seven of the ten available vendor spaces are now booked, Endres says. “We have three to four food vendors, ranging from a caterer to a wood-fired pizza place to a bakery,” he says. “We’re trying to weed through the interest (for the last spaces)…we’re shooting for a coffee retailer and a confectioner to sell candy and chocolate. We’ll also have some more general retailers.”

While specific vendor names won’t be released until closer to the market’s Memorial Day opening date, Endres says “almost all of the products (featured on the property) will be locally made.” Vendors have been chosen to complement one another and ensure there’s “no internal competition,” says Endres. “We want it to be a community.” Reconstruction of the historic building – once the horse stable for the Traverse City Police Department – is in the demolition phase now, with vendor build-outs targeted for April.

O’Donnell has also announced that the planned 4,500 square-foot craft brewery on-site, originally slated to be called Traverse City Brewing Company, has been renamed Monkey Fist Brewing Company. Named for a type of sailor’s knot, Monkey Fist is also the name of a beer produced by Shipyard Brewing Company, which is acting as an advisor on the Traverse City project.

New Owners For G’s Pizzeria Building
After sitting vacant for over two years, the former G’s Pizzeria building at 1500 US-31 is under new ownership.

Todd and Beth Gokey purchased the East Bay Township parcel last month, according to property records. Terms of the sale were undisclosed. The Gokeys purchased the building in the busy US-31 corridor “as an investment,” according to Todd.

“It will be a restaurant,” he says. “But there is no plan as to what type or any (details) about it. We may run it ourselves, or we may lease it or sell it. We’re not sure yet.”

The Gokeys have previously purchased and renovated several other properties in Traverse City, including the former TC Traders and Big Easy Rhythm and Blues Grill restaurant space on Garfield Avenue and South Airport Road, which became Copper Falls. The pair also own Knights Inn and Howard Johnson, both on Munson Avenue.

Renovations are underway at the former G’s building now.

Carmike Acquired By AMC
Regulators last week approved AMC Theatres’ $1.1 billion acquisition of Carmike Cinemas, clearing the way for Carmike’s venues – including Cherry Blossom 14 in Traverse City – to come under the AMC umbrella.

AMC has not yet stated whether Carmike theaters will be renamed AMC or if the company intends to maintain two separate brands. But in a new FAQ section on the AMC website, the company says “over the next several months, we plan to combine the best of what Carmike had to offer with the best AMC has to offer.”

“Almost nothing will change immediately…your ticket prices will stay the same,” AMC wrote. “You can keep earning and using your Carmike loyalty reward points and your gift cards. You can still fill your Popcorn Bucket at the announced price of $4.25 in 2017. You can still go to the movies for $5 on Tuesdays. You will use the Carmike website to look up movies and buy tickets.”

Some theaters will see concessions upgrades and theater renovations, according to AMC. It’s unclear whether Cherry Blossom 14 – which was newly built in 2015 and already offers many of the concessions typical at AMC, such as alcohol and Coca-Cola Freestyle machines – will undergo any changes. While initially “AMC’s promotions will not apply at Carmike Cinemas and vice versa,” according to AMC, “some of these things will change over time.” More details on AMC’s plans are expected to be unveiled in early 2017.

The Carmike deal makes AMC the number-one theater chain in the country, overtaking Regal Entertainment Group with 661 theaters and 8,200 screens.

In Other News…
A new fitness center is opening Monday at 1230 Woodmere Avenue. Trainers and business partners Leo Ugalde, Josh Holton and Brad Giglio will operate Fresh Coast Fitness in the former Cold Front Crossfit space. The facility will offer a variety of “health and wellbeing, strength and conditioning, and mobility classes and training,” according to Ugalde, including Crossfit, powerlifting, Olympic-style weightlifting and more. Access options will include memberships, punch cards and drop-ins. As part of a grand opening promotion, the company is offering the first week free to new customers.

The Redheads Café & Tasting Room at 202 W. Main Street in Lake Leelanau is closing January 1 for the winter season, with a targeted reopening date of May 1. Owner Sarah Facility explained in an email to customers Thursday that while she has “always been focused on being a year-round establishment,” the company’s new production facility in Traverse City requires her immediate attention. “We need to now get that facility hitting the projected numbers we intended, and to do so we must focus the next few months on sales, marketing, demos, and building and maintaining relationships with customers and stores,” Facility wrote.

According to owner John McGee, the new McGee’s 31 restaurant at 273 US-31 nears Chums Corner will open in January. While McGee and partner Glen Harrington originally hoped to open by the holidays, the duo ran into “unforeseen circumstances that are being remedied now,” says McGee. Once open, McGee’s 31 will offer a full bar, seating for more than 90, and house-made burgers, sandwiches, seafood and other menu items.