Riverfront Pizza and Deli expands into their 18th year

By Norm Wheeler
Sun editor

It’s hard to pin down Tim or Sue Nichols for an interview at Riverfront Pizza & Deli. This time of the year they’re almost too busy to talk. And showing up at the end of lunch hour is bad timing. But after 18 years of serving the Glen Lake area, they are one of the town’s oldest businesses still operated by the original owners, so they are patient with me, and they are always gracious. Sue takes time to tell me about the new deli operation that they started in May. “We have sandwiches, rollups, salads, cheesecakes, and bar cookies ready to go out the door,” Sue says. “Everybody seems to be in such a big hurry when they’re on vacation!” The deli hopes to expand with entree-type take-outs in the fall, including hot food and soups “like the former Exquisite Edibles in Traverse City used to sell.” The deli is open daily (except Sunday) from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sue has tried several local jobs over the years before realizing she is happiest “just making food.” She did accounting for Leelanau Coffee Roasters, and before that she managed Becky Thatcher Jewelry Designs. “It’s most satisfying to do something you really like,” admits Sue, “and our help, especially Suzy Viswat, is great!”
Tim Nichols anchors the original “pizza processing plant”, which is in reality just a tiny kitchen. From that end of the building customers pick up pizza, fried foods, subs and salads from 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. “We plan to expand with another pizza oven, and hopefully with a steam bar with self-service for soups in another month or so,” Tim announces. Tim is a familiar face in Glen Arbor, as he also is an EMT, a member of the Fire Department, and a former member of the town council. “When it snows we’ll shut down the lunch service, and I’ll make pizzas from 5 – 10 p.m,” he says. Tim delivers food to the Leelanau School dorms at the end of winter evening shifts, and says “The appetites of those Leelanau School students definitely keeps us going in the winter.”
The busy summer season and the prospect of expansion has buoyed up the Nichols’ after a sad spring. “We lost our dog in February, Tim’s dad in April, and both of my grandmothers in June and July,” Sue laments, “so we’re real tired of funerals. I told the florist to just sign me up for the ‘plant of the month’ club.” But despite their busy schedule, Tim and Sue Nichols share their home with Tim’s mom, Harriet Nichols,who is 87. “She’s very sharp both physically and mentally,” Sue reports, “so that is really a blessing.”
So now Riverfront Pizza can provide you with both lunch and dinner. If you happen to be floating by in a kayak or a canoe, you are allowed to shout your order to the staff and come back to pick it up when you get out of the river! Tim and Sue Nichols have been taking care of their little bend in the Crystal River for 18 years by serving good food out-the-door. Now, as their menu expands, I can’t wait to try the oxbow soup!