Traverse City's New Eats, Places to Shop

New places to eat and shop are popping up around town. Today, The Ticker gathers up some of the latest openings to share with you:

Likam’s Bakeshop
Likam’s Bakeshop has opened in the alley between Cass and Union streets, just behind Union Street Station. Hand-frosted sugar cookies are its specialty, says owner Jon Buckey, who operates the shop with his mother Bonnie Goodman. Buckey brings 20 years of experience in the culinary arts and Goodman spent the last 15 years at Mary’s Creative Cookies in Saginaw.

Likam’s offers other sweet treats including fruit-filled dessert cakes, cupcakes, brownies and chocolate-drizzled rice krispie treats. The bakeshop hopes to carve out a niche by focusing exclusively on sweets – no breads or sandwiches, says Buckey. For the home baker, the shop also offers DIY supplies including cupcake decorators, cake pans, sprinkles, melting chocolate and bulk caramel.

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; 944.6786.

Spanglish: Tamales and More
Spanglish opens Wednesday at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, next to Left Foot Charley in the former Underground Cheesecake retail location. Anna and Vicente Serrano began Spanglish Catering Co. a year and a half ago with their tamales and salsas and then began selling at the weekly Village Farmers Market.

In addition to tamales, the menu includes tacos, salads, tortas and burritos. Some items will be ready-to-go in the deli case, including dinners.

Hours are Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 231.499.0792.

The Little Fleet
The Little Fleet and food truck hub is bringing life back to the corner of E. Front and Wellington, home to the former Jack’s Market. Hours are 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. every day.

Dunkin’ is Back
Good news, Dunkin’ Donuts fans: there’s a new Dunkin’ in town. Located inside the Great Wolf Lodge on U.S. 31 in the main lobby, it is open to the public daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Traverse City’s last Dunkin’ Donuts operated on Munson Avenue for 14 years before closing in the fall of 2009.

New Arcade Retailers
Three sisters have opened Seoul Sisters Boutique www.seoulsistersboutique.com in the Front Street Commons (aka The Arcade) in downtown Traverse City. The trendy Korean and Asian clothing is handmade and hand-selected by one member of the sister trio, Kourtni Rader, who frequently travels to the county with her tour and travel company.

Rader – along with sisters Morgan Dix and Whitney Richardson – were all born in South Korea to different families, but all adopted by the same Michigan family and ended up in Traverse City. The three women opened the store in memory of another sister Jennifer Miles, who passed away in January.

In addition to clothing, the boutique also sells designer heels, jewelry and other accessories. Store hours are Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Also new to Front Street Commons is Two Bays TC, an apparel and fashion company. All the designs are created by owner Matt Vandlen and printed in Traverse City by Britten. The shirts and other products are all sourced in the U.S.

The company was founded as an online-only business that partners with local nonprofits and charities to help with fundraising efforts. Vandlen opened the retail location to broaden his exposure and philanthropic mission. Hours are Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun., Noon to 4 p.m.

A Clean Cigarette
An independent retailer of A Clean Cigarette has opened a second location in town – at 406 S. Union Street in Traverse City’s Old Town. Owner Robert Richardson also owns and operates A Clean Cigarette kiosk in the Grand Traverse Mall.

The electronic cigarette retailer’s goal is to help individuals break the tobacco habit and live a cleaner lifestyle. Each cigarette cartridge is equal to 400 puffs, approximately a pack and a half of cigarettes. In addition to cartridges, it also sells batteries, chargers and cases.

The store is open Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sun., Noon to 6 p.m. Find it on Facebook at A Clean Cigarette NM.

Closing/Relocation
The Sweet Life candy store, which opened downtown last year and sold retro candies and gums and other candy-inspired treats, has closed and Traverse City-inspired apparel shop Love Traverse City has moved into the space at 121 E. Front.