Restaurant Openings and Closings in Traverse City : News : The Ticker

Traverse City News and Events
Sunday, May 19, 2013

Today's News

Share |

Restaurant Openings and Closings in Traverse City

February 28, 2013

By Gayle Neu

Restaurant Openings and Closings in Traverse City

More changes are underway in the Traverse City area restaurant scene...

The owner of Opa! Coney & Grill has taken over the space formerly occupied by JP’s Hard Luck Diner on Front Street near the Holiday Inn. Paul Barbas plans to revamp the restaurant and open an Opa establishment April 1.

While it's too early to release specifics, Barbas plans to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and have a full bar.

“We are envisioning some cool things in here,” he tells The Ticker.

Barbas will continue to operate his Opa! Coney & Grill in the Cherryland Center on Garfield Avenue. He also owns The Metro Coney & Grill near Chums Corner.

Chef JP Pellar operated JP’s Hard Luck Diner for years after moving it a few doors down from his original Front Street location. The restaurant shut down mid-February.

TraVino Shuttered/Schelde’s Gets a Facelift
TraVino Traverse Wine & Grille on M-72 East in Williamsburg closed this past Monday, a spokesman confirmed.

Mike Trubac, a regional director for Schelde Enterprises Inc., said Howard Schelde and his partner, who’ve been in business for 50 years, are ready to retire. He couldn't give more details, but says Schelde is expected to release a statement soon about the closure.

The restaurant specialized in Italian, Mediterranean, Spanish and French cuisine.

Meanwhile, Schelde’s Grille & Spirits on Munson Avenue will be getting a facelift this spring, Trubac says.

“We are shooting for April 1 to close to do the remodel. We’ll reopen for Easter and then be closed again for two to three weeks after that. It’s been 25 years since it’s had a redo inside. It’s time to make it look pretty again.”

The adjacent tavern will stay open throughout the revamp, he adds.

Georgina’s Now Open
In downtown Traverse City, Georgina’s, an Asian and Latin Taquería, is officially up and running at 439 E. Front St. It was formerly occupied by 9 Bean Rows Café, which closed in December (at that time, owners Jen and Nic Welty were looking for another location to reopen).

Chef Gregory Anthony Craig was born in Bluefields, Nicaragua. According to his website, his father is Cuban and his mother half Chinese and half Nicaraguan. At age seven, he was adopted by his American father and raised in Tampa. Georgina’s is named after his cousin, Georgina Alvarez.

They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner every day from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call 943-1555 to make reservations. Click here for a taste of the menu.

New Owner For Pleasanton Bakery
There’s been a change of hands crafting the naturally-leavened breads at Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery in Traverse City. Founders Gerard Grabowski and Jan Shireman have sold the bakery to Jonathan St. Hilaire.

“Jan and myself are part of a wave of the early artisan food entrepreneurs who must pass on their crafts, brands and customer loyalty to fresh and innovative younger food artisans,” says Grabowski.

After starting the bakery more than 20 years ago in Manistee County, the couple moved the operation in 2007 to The Village at Grand Traverse Commons with a plan to grow it and then pass it on, he adds.

St. Hilaire comes to TC from Atlanta, but with Michigan connections. The classically-trained chef's past experience includes stints at Pavard's Patisserie and Bouley Bakery in NYC and owner of the former Bakeshop in Atlanta. St. Hilarie brings a passion for pastries and is expanding the bakery's sweet offerings. He describes the breads as “pretty close to perfection” but will be playing with more shapes, sizes and flavors, especially focused on 'in season' ingredients.

From food trailer to storefront
Bill and Laurie Walker have opened Lehto's Pasties at 720 W. Front (next to Ace Hardware) in TC, at the former location of Latte-Dah. Walker previously sold pasties out of a truck around town before purchasing the original Lehto's Pasties, in operation since 1947, in St. Ignace last year. The take-out only shop offers beef, chicken and vegetarian pasties. Hours are Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"Osteria" coming to Building 50
Construction has begun on a 40-seat Italian-style restaurant in Building 50. It'll be located across from Black Star Farms in the former Mana space. Owners Giorgio Lo Greco and Monica Cucoreanu plan to open in April.

Permalink

comment here

Most Recent Comments

Jeremy Beaugrand on March 20, 2013 8:24pm

I cooked at TraVino for three years between the summer of 2003 and the summer of 2006. Best job I ever had, period. Great food, great people, wonderful decor. Ate their a small handful of times since. I will miss it badly!

Shel on March 9, 2013 12:54pm

Travinos will be missed, was on our way home to Alden area....word thru the grapevine is no thought given to all those hard working employees who always served us so kindly, that no notice given....not a fan of the other Scheldes never had good food or service there....too bad the owners were not willing to put more effort into Travinos....was always busy in there, food & service always fantastic...not the case at Scheldes...I think was a big mistake to let go all those good employees!

Betty on March 3, 2013 11:28am

Bonnie Spanier, that is how Howard S. has always done business. Business first and his employees last.
Had soup and salad at Schelde's this past week. Nothing like cold soap at for lunch. Our waitress heard about the renovations but hasn't been told what would become of the employees.
Suprised the health dept. hasn't cited Schelde's for the filth in the restaurant. Ever check out the ceiling tiles?

Vicki on March 3, 2013 10:47am

4e6ut
I dearly loved Travino's. Their Veal Picata was the best as well as their Gorganzola Steak to just name a few of my favorites. Acme just lost another great eatery. There is no fine dining at our end of town other than the resort.
Locenheath isn't open all year long.

Please add Travino's meals to the evening menu at Sheldes.c9ke3

Mark Haney on March 2, 2013 4:13pm

We stopped in with the family Thursday to The Village Grill at 3 mile and Hammond in TC. The food was not only outstabding, but the portions were huge! The fish was awesome, and the key lime pie was to die for. You need to check this place out!

Penny on March 1, 2013 11:05pm

To Jennifer: I am not without sympathy for their situation. As a small business owner, I know exactly how hard it is to hold on by your fingernails because I have been there. Some choices are just hard, but giving fair warning to loyal employees and customers is quite simply the right thing to do.

Ron Beyer on March 1, 2013 8:39pm

There is one more restaurant opening in the area. That would be "The Village Grill," next to Roy's General Store at 3 Mile and Hammond. I had dinner there tonight and the food was very good.

T on March 1, 2013 11:00am

I love to eat out, however, just cannot believe how saturated the Traverse City market is with restaurants. Long time owners re-branding; small newbies coming in; one owner spreading themselves too thin with too many locations. I know what it is like to be a restaurant owner in this town and understand how difficult it can be. Good luck to new and old, but really, overkill here!

Jennifer on February 28, 2013 6:53pm

Until some of you are business owners, you will never know how devastating it is to keep a business open by the skin of your teeth, and then have to close because there is nothing left.

Cindy on February 28, 2013 4:57pm

Travino's. I'm a native and still had to consciously 'remember' that Travino's was out there - 'the best kept secret'? A little marketing, plus a more sincere welcome may have changed the outcome. Words for thought.