Posts

Fried, the new food truck in the Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District, diversifies the Glen Arbor eating scene, as hundreds of thousands of hungry tourists begin arriving to soak up the summer. “Food trucks offer variety and a different, fun atmosphere,” said Raupp. “You get to interface with the guests, which doesn’t happen when you’re a chef in a restaurant. There’s a symbiotic relationship and a more experiential dining experience. With so much tourism up here in Northern Michigan, and lots of little pockets that could use food, snacks and refreshments, there’s room in our industry to grow.”

The seventh annual Glen Lake Restaurant Week offers an array of dining around Glen Arbor, the week before Mother’s Day. Whether you plan to dine-in or take-out, enjoy mouthwatering experiences from “French fries to French cuisine” Friday, April 29-Saturday, May 7. Glen Arbor’s dining scene in 2022 will also include two food trucks opening in late May on the vacant lot next to the former Riverfont Pizza & Deli, which was acquired last year by Katy and Matt Wiesen, owners of the Crystal Rver Outfitters Recreational District.

The Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District in Glen Arbor is hosting its first Districtwide Easter Egg Hunt. The festivities will take place on Saturday, April 16. The afternoon will be full of Easter activities and family fun. The event will kick off at 3 pm with face painting and crafts. At 4 pm, the Easter Egg Hunt will begin with an opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny. Afterwards, families may enjoy spring drinks (think wine cocktails and mocktails for the kids) and Peep ‘smores on the M22 Wine Patio.

Kick off the holiday season with Glen Arbor’s first annual Strolling Lights Festival. The Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District invites families, groups or individuals to sponsor a tree to decorate this holiday season. All visitors are then invited to enjoy the works through the New Year. Even more importantly, proceeds from this festival will go to the Glen Lake Schools Student Assistance Fund.

Tim and Sue Nichols, owners of Riverfront Pizza (Johnnie Salami’s), reflect on their time at Glen Arbor’s iconic pizza joint on the Crystal River. The Nichols have sold Riverfront to Matt and Katy Wiesen, who own Crystal River Outfitters.

The business dynamic in Glen Arbor is in flux. A recent walk from one end of town to the other to ask “What’s the buzz?” took four hours because so much is happening. Both facts and rumors abound. And it’s the youthful energy of several newer business owners that is leading the transition.

Photos (l-r): Cherry Republic owner Bob Sutherland (photo by Taro Yamasaki); Jamaican workers employed by Anderson’s Market in 2017 (photo by Norm Wheeler); Leelanau Fruit manager Ben LaCross (photo by Madeleine Vedel) By Jacob Wheeler Sun editor Farmers and retailers in Leelanau County who rely on seasonal migrant and guest workers are sweating through the […]

“Knock, knock; Housekeeping!” That will be the mantra for the dedicated group cleaning and laundering their way through the busy summer season under the direction of Kristin Frodl, housekeeping supervisor for Leelanau Vacation Rentals (LVR) in Glen Arbor.

Young entrepreneurs Katy and Matt Wiesen are re-opening their Coastal retail clothing store this spring in a swanky new building on the east side of Glen Arbor.

Glen Arbor pedestrians and shopping tourists have one more reason to walk west on M-109 this spring. Just past the Good Harbor Grill and the Pine Cone ice cream shop, Katy and Matt Wiesen have opened the clothing apparel store Coastal in the space formerly occupied by Great Lakes Tea & Spice. The tea & spice shop hopscotched west to the other side of Ruth Conklin Gallery, and now shares a space with Arabella Concepts jewelry store.