Hop Lot’s Beer Garden Grows; Detroit’s Nora Pops-Up This Summer In Northport; More Retail Openings & Happenings

There’s now more room to roam and soak up nature at Suttons Bay’s Hop Lot Brewing Co. The microbrewery’s owners purchased the former Urgent Care building and parcel adjacent to the existing business on M-22 in late December of 2019, with intentions to connect the properties and gain additional parking. Drew Lutke — who founded Hop Lot with brother Steve Lutke and sister-in-law Sarah Lutke in 2015 — tells the Leelanau Ticker that KAL Excavating crews have now left the property and the new sections are open. Meanwhile, imbibers can see landscape architect Bob Dompierre and team in progress, as they transform the expanded beer garden just in time for the summer 2021 season.

“The backdrop of our property is absolutely stunning, but we’ve always intended on sprucing up the interior portion,” he says. “We’ve been dreaming up a layout that makes sense logistically for our style of service and ultimately encourages our guests to explore and embrace the property from every angle.”

With the renovation, Hop Lot added paths throughout the beer garden, including the more densely wooded area toward the back of the property. A semi-permanent tent — arriving later this month — will be installed in case of inclement weather which also “opens up the potential to host private events in the future.”

To keep service streamlined in the growing space, the Lutkes are currently staffing up, and there will be satellite beer stations built throughout the beer garden. Though keeping specific plans for the former Urgent Care building close to their chests, Drew Lutke tells the Leelanau Ticker, “we’ve filed for a Small Distiller license and plan to utilize the next door property as a distillery.”

Nora, a Detroit-based modern gift and housewares store co-founded by entrepreneurs Liz Boone and Toby Barlow in 2012, announced plans this week to open a seasonal shop in the historic space at 107 E. Nagonaba Street in the heart of Northport. The new location will be the company’s first outside of its flagship store on Cass Avenue in Midtown.

The store’s roots are “inspired by Michigan’s role in the genesis of American modern design.”

Boone says, “We’re excited about Northport, which has been a growing community for designers and craftspeople,” adding that she and husband Toby Barlow were stunned by the beauty of the landscape and of the people from their first visit.

She shares that this is a pop-up shop for the summer and fall season. “If all goes as we hope, we’ll be scouting out a permanent location for Nora Northport.”

Danielle Percy of Northport will be store manager. “She is our local connection,” Boone adds. “We want to come in as good guests, not interlopers, being mindful of customs and norms and the vibe of the community. We want to provide what we have done in Detroit, bringing beautiful, thoughtful objects to people while also integrating Detroit makers into our mix. Ideally, we’ll introduce Detroit artisans and makers to Northport and introduce Detroiters to Northern Michigan makers.”

Nora Northport will be open Thursday through Monday starting May 27.

Nora is sharing space on the corner of Waukazoo and Nagonaba with seasonal farm-to-table event venue and caterer The Union, run by chefs Eric Allchin and Paul Carlson. The tasting room for Leelanau-grown Baia Estate wines is planned to be housed in the building this summer, staffed by Allchin’s team, and The Union will also be functioning as a pop-up kitchen for Northport farmstead cheesemakers Idyll Farms. 

Allchin shares that they are in the homestretch of the licensing now, and that “the partnership with Baia Wines and Idyll Farms is a natural. Our space here at The Union always felt it could be a multi-use.” He adds that when not off-site at catering events, the goal is for The Union's two new purchases this spring — a wood-fired pizza truck and “steampunk-style Argentinian grill” — to operate behind the building for any who come to the space. “The idea is for people to come to the courtyard, enjoy a bottle of Baia wine and maybe a pizza or a whole fish and roasted vegetables off the grill.”

The Union’s family-style community dinners will also make a comeback this summer, in a new format. “We will be making them more approachable with smaller groups — we have built eight massive farm tables so we can social distance at dinners. We will navigate what size we are allowed,” he says.

(The Leelanau Ticker reported earlier this year that the entire 9,260 square-foot commercial space currently is listed with Dan Stiebel of Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors, with all tenants remaining through their lease terms.)

Elsewhere in the county: Gift and souvenir shop LL Narrows opened in Lake Leelanau May 1, adjacent to Peddling Beans. Its owner, Cedar native Katie Graham, says she was thrilled to see the early-season foot traffic from the coffee shop, nearby Hannah’s and Northern Latitudes Distillery. “It’s definitely a happening spot,” she says.

Clothing designer Abby Foster of Suttons Bay, founder of the locally handmade sustainable clothing brand Toile & Stripes, is launching her first storefront. Its exact Leelanau location is still to be announced (follow T&S on Facebook for details) but Foster says it will be open and stocked by the end of the month.

Poppy Things owner/maker Chelsey Skowronski and manager Scott Rodger say their expansion into the storefront next door to the current boutique (323 N. St. Joseph Street, Suttons Bay) has been a DIY labor of love, with the reveal planned for this Saturday, May 8. The “new” side will serve as a studio space for Skowronski, who is a clothing designer, plus carry curated home goods, including locally made quilts.

And after leaving beloved Fishtown digs due to high-water surges and flooding, Leland gal fabric designer Maggie Revel Mielczarek and team are opening the doors of its permanent and brightly renovated space at 104 N. Main Street in Leland. Opening day is May 8, and to celebrate both fresh starts and local moms, Mielczarek is offering fresh blooms on pre-order.

Pictured: Hop Lot's expanded beer garden; Nora in Detroit