Seven years after closing popular restaurant Bistro Foufou, La Bécasse owner and chef Guillaume Hazaël-Massieux is making his Traverse City return. Hazaël-Massieux is planning a May opening of new wine bar Colibri in the former NoBo Market space in the Commongrounds Cooperative building on Eighth Street. Also making an anticipated return to TC’s brick-and-mortar scene is former Patisserie Amie owner Eric Fritch, who is opening new restaurant Chez Amie this month in the previous Hexenbelle space in Warehouse MRKT. The Ticker has the details on those and other restaurant and retail updates.
Colibri Wine Bar
“The hummingbird is back in town.” That’s how Guillaume Hazaël-Massieux laughingly refers to his return to Traverse City, referencing the iconic hummingbird mural still seen on the side of his former Bistro Foufou building on Cass Street. That hummingbird, created by artist Darin Knupp, is incorporated into the new logo (pictured, left) for Hazaël-Massieux’s latest project: the Colibri Wine Bar opening in the former NoBo Market space in May.
Hazaël-Massieux took possession of the space Wednesday and is already hard at work reimagining it. “There is so much untapped potential here,” he says, gesturing to the riverfront restaurant with an outdoor deck facing the Boardman (pictured, top right). Hazaël-Massieux plans to update the décor with velour curtains, reupholstered booths, gilded antique mirrors, new lighting fixtures, and Roman window shades to create a European-inspired Art Deco aesthetic with modern touches.
Partitions will create a lounge area with a mix of sofas and seating and more defined dining areas in the large room, with a mix of communal bar tables and intimate dinner seating. Colibri (which means “hummingbird” in French and Spanish) will feature not only wines from around the world – with a focus on France, reflecting Hazaël-Massieux’s background – but small plates for group sharing. The tapas menu will feature regular items like escargot, frites, and charcuterie (expect some returning Bistro Foufou favorites) but also revolving themes featuring different cuisines, like Caribbean, North African, Mediterranean, and Italian, he says.
The front counter will have a dedicated oyster bar, with the option for customers to order multi-level serving trays featuring different types of seafood. The deck can hold up to 34 seats outside in the summer. Hazaël-Massieux is aiming to create a “vibrant” space that is “welcoming to everyone,” he says, whether an upscale experience for those looking to splurge or a simple bar seat and apéritif for someone watching the World Cup. He plans to offer 40 different types of wine by the glass at price points ranging from $7-8 up to $20-25, along with bottle sales. “There will be wine for every wallet,” says Hazaël-Massieux. Appetizers will similarly start in the $6-8 range and go up from there.
Colibri will be open six days a week (closed Sunday) from 2pm-10pm. Hazaël-Massieux will split his time between Colibri and La Bécasse in Maple City, with partner Bastien Le Guen also helping run Colibri. While Hazaël-Massieux briefly considered remodeling the former Agave space on Garfield, when NoBo became available he knew he’d found the right spot for his TC return. “Sometimes things happen for a reason,” he says.
Chez Amie
After The Ticker recently broke the news that former Patisserie Amie owner Eric Fritch was planning to open a new brick-and-mortar restaurant after his popular food truck Le Metropolitain burned down, the restaurant’s location has now been confirmed. Fritch plans to open in two weeks in the former Hexenbelle space in Warehouse MRKT at the corner of Hall and Garland streets.
Fritch was forced to close Patisserie Amie at the start of the pandemic and has heard often from customers who miss the eatery, he says. The new Chez Amie (pictured, bottom right) will feature many returning favorites, including egg dishes, crepes, beignets, and pastries, plus sandwiches, pizzas, and other entrees. “It’ll be a fun, lively French atmosphere and feature some of those famous dishes from the past that people were clamoring for,” Fritch says.
He describes three phases for Chez Amie. The first phase will focus on brunch, with planned hours of 9am-2pm Thursday-Monday (closed Tues/Wed). The beverage program will feature coffee drinks and French sodas until the liquor license arrives, which could take a few months. The license will bring in phase two featuring happy hour service and private events. Eventually Chez Amie will expand into dinner service in phase three. Patio seating will be available during nice weather, with a reservation system also expected to be offered. “I love the location,” Fritch says. “It’s beautiful and was smartly designed.”
More restaurant & retail news…
> The Tasting Room will soon undergo a branding change on Garland Street – but will still retain the same owners/staff, décor, and menu. Owner Carolyn Weeks says the restaurant will transition to new name Cellar & Flame at the end of May. The name reflects the restaurant’s evolution since it opened in 2021 to “an elevated steakhouse centered around prime steaks, refined seafood, and a more intentional dining experience,” she explains. The restaurant also has a new wood-fired grill that all proteins will be cooked over, she adds.
> Benjamin Twiggs is moving from its long-time home on East Front Street to a new space at 305 W Front Street (Suite D) next to Mundos. Owner Leisa Eckerle-Hankins says the business – celebrating its 60th anniversary this year – will be out of its current spot by April 30 and opening in the new space in early May. Benjamin Twiggs will be doubling its retail floor space, adding a demonstration area for community events and education, launching exclusive product lines, and participating in downtown gift cards and events, Eckerle-Hankins says. “This move is a big step forward for us,” she says, “not just as a retail space, but as a hub for sharing the story of cherry farming and connecting with both locals and visitors in a more meaningful way.”
> Michigan-based Mediterranean chain Pita Way is opening its first Traverse City location in an outlot building at the Cherryland Center. The restaurant specializes in a “build-your-own” bowl concept with options like yellow rice, hummus, tabbouli, falafel, grilled chicken, and other proteins, plus curry and lentil soups, pickled cabbage, and other sides. A company representative said Pita Way will open in June. Also at the Cherryland Center, the K1 Speed building has been listed on the market for $11 million. The package includes the business, the 8.48-acre commercial property, and “ample on-site parking with 459 spaces (and a) strong surrounding retail presence,” the listing states.
> Finally, you know it’s almost summer when The Little Fleet trucks hit the lot and the Dairy Lodge opens its windows. Barbara Saxton of The Little Fleet shares this summer’s food truck lineup, which includes the returning Cordwood Barbecue, Traverse City Pizza Co., Tommy the Taco, and Dogwood. Dogwood will lean more Tex-Mex this summer with plates like tamales, pupusas, and tostadas along with their hot dogs, she says. New this summer will be an Archie’s food truck from Archie’s Social House serving bowls, smash burgers, and salads. Crocodile Palace will continue to operate inside the bar with its Szechuan-based menu. The official truck opening weekend is April 24, though “a few early tastes may pop up before the full launch,” Saxton says.
The Dairy Lodge has also officially opened for the season as of March 28. The Division Street ice cream shop, a long-running summer tradition for locals and tourists alike, is currently operating daily from 2pm to 8pm (closed on Easter).
Dining and Cooking