The Leelanau Ticker takes a closer look at new beginnings and business growth underway across the peninsula this spring.

Katy and Matt Wiesen, co-owners of Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District say that their main store and livery — closed since last August due to an accident and fire — is on track to open for another kayaking season on the Crystal River on May 6.

“Thanks to the swift work of Cooley Contracting this date would align with our traditional May opening date as we have historically done,” shares Katy Wiesen.

“Unfortunately, this project came to light because of a tragedy. However, we are taking this as an opportunity to modernize our facility.”

The new Crystal River Outfitters (pictured) will be open-air, with multiple glass garage doors and a wall of glass overlooking the Crystal River. “We are so excited to welcome back our paddlers,” says Wiesen. “The last year has been incredibly trying, but the support of the community has given us the strength to pull off our reopening in record time.”

Adorable new shop alert…times two. The owner of the Fort Wayne, Indiana “lifestyle general store” The FIND, has announced that she will fling open the doors to not one, but two sister stores in Leelanau County this season. “I am shaking my head at myself a bit, but opportunity knocked and I’m going through that door,” Melani Wilson tells the Leelanau Ticker.

Wilson, whose family roots go back to the 70s near Little Traverse Lake, became a part-time Leland resident with her family in 2001.

The former Ace Hardware store space in Northport was the first to come on her radar. Timm and Aaron Sahs of Northport Building Supply sold the building that housed their independent hardware store at 106 Nagonaba Street and moved the whole enterprise to a newly expanded store on Mill Street.

The building's new owner Kristin Hite is working with a local architect to maintain some of the endearing history while “doing some of the ‘not fun’ renovations so it will be good to go for the next 50 years,” says Wilson. The FIND North general store will be a mix of vintage and modern vibes. “We were able to get a hold of a great antique cigar case that was at the history museum — so happy to keep that in Northport.”

The second location for The FIND North is 110 N. Lake St. in Leland, next to Grand Traverse Distillery.  “We are currently doing a little bit of a build out are hopeful to open to the public in early May.” While only a dozen or so miles from each other, she notes “each town has its own energy...Leland being a tad busier during those magical weeks of summer and Northport a bit more of a ‘stay awhile, ramble and visit’ destination. Our thought is to eventually have pop-ups and workshops and events in the Northport space on a year-round basis.” 

Meanwhile, the anticipated opening of the newly revived general store in the heart of Omena is on track for this spring. Don and Betsy Leathery, of Omena and Columbus, meticulously restored the Omena Bay Country Store property to its original 1891 glory, completing renovations at the end of last year. 

“This included the home and the apartment renovation, in addition the store renovation,” shares Don Leathery, whose property management firm The Leathery Company will lease the entire space to Amy and Kevin Murphy, owners of New Bohemian Café in Northport.

“The Murphys are working very hard to bring a high-quality store and product to the community. We are very excited to see them open,” Leathery says.

The vision is for a neighborhood general store, providing Omena locals and visitors with the routine items needed around the cottage, on the boat, or at the beach, says Kevin Murphy. “We’ll have a very nice selection of beer, wine and liquor. We’ll have snacks and grab-and-go food. We’ll have coffee. We’ll have all the odds and ends that people might want to drive up to Northport or down to Suttons Bay for — like batteries, bug spray, charcoal, and that sort of thing.”

When will this gem of a spot on the bay open? Soon, updates Murphy: “We have our final liquor control commission inspection next week. We are ordering product and getting the store organized for opening a bit later this spring.”

More business buzz: >> Marcie Newton, founder of Petoskey-based Grandma’s Perogies (she leaves out the “i”), shares that Buntings Cedar Market is the new home of her handcrafted pierogi business. “I have sold to Bunting’s,” she tells the Leelanau Ticker. “All recipes for fillings and my grandmother’s dough recipe belong to them now.” Newton commutes from Petoskey for full days of production at the market, rolling and filling 20 homemade varieties alongside Buntings' staff.

>> Cherry Republic, headquartered in Glen Arbor, announced it is adding a Vice President of Climate and Community Impact to its leadership team to “advocate for clean water and air, and support our local farmers and community members.” This role will amplify the company’s longtime environmental efforts and manage charitable giving of approximately half a million dollars per year.

>> Northport goat cheese maker Idyll Farms is celebrating two “best in class” wins at the World Championship Cheese Contest held last week in Madison, Wisconsin. Its Idyll Pastures Spreadable Plain and Idyll Pastures Spreadable Garlic and Herb each took the top prize in their categories, with entries evaluated by a team of technical judges from all over the world.

>> One year after opening as a loan center at 212 N. St. Joseph Street, State Savings Bank announced that it has now launched full-service banking in Suttons Bay. As of last month, the regional bank, founded in 1901, offers personal and business banking and mortgage, in addition to commercial and consumer lending. The office is downtown next to The Bay Theatre. 

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