Paddle Courts Of Leelanau Changes Course, MAWBY Plots Tasting Bar In Downtown Traverse City; Other Leelanau Business News

A nonprofit raising money to bring a new type of sporting facility to Leelanau County is changing course, while Leelanau’s longest-running winery will soon have a presence in downtown Traverse City. These are a couple of the big stories playing out across the Leelanau business scene. Read on for more...

Paddle Courts of Leelanau

In February, the Leelanau Ticker reported that Dune Bird Winery in Northport was partnering with a nonprofit organization called Paddle Courts of Leelanau (PCOL), which planned to build two platform tennis courts on the winery’s property. At the time, PCOL was raising funds with hopes of breaking ground sometime this past spring. The organization had a sizable head start thanks to the American Platform Tennis Association (APTA), which had awarded both a donated court and a $25,000 grant, for a total of $50,000.

Platform tennis, alternately known as “paddle tennis” – or just “paddle – is defined as “an outdoor racquet sport that combines elements of tennis, squash, and racquetball. It is called platform tennis because the court is raised off the ground, with heaters below the court to keep the playing surface clear of snow and ice..."

In an email update sent to PCOL members and supporters last week, the organization’s board of directors provided an update about PCOL’s “exciting and productive first year of fundraising and development,” but also shared a likely change in plans.

PCOL reports that it has $96,000 in hand “from founding memberships and donations,” plus another $20,000-plus in “current pledges.” The nonprofit, which previously estimated a $120,000 budget to build the courts, is planning for the facility to have a private “members only” structure and has used the sale of family memberships – a $1,250 price tag – to raise money for the development.

However, since the original plan was for Dune Bird Winery to lease space on its property for construction of the courts, PCOL also intended for the facilities to be available for use by Dune Bird customers. Now the Dune Bird partnership is in doubt.

“We have received some legal advice regarding the lease model for the club,” PCOL’s board of directors shared in last week’s email. “Unfortunately, there is some foreseeable risk in leasing the site. While not out of the question, we are interested in potential sites for the club where we can own the land.”

PCOL is seeking feedback from its members on what steps to take next, including potential alternate locations. However, the board warned supporters that it may have to dip into some of the money raised so far “to pay for legal consulting related to property acquisition or leasing, and adequate protections for the volunteer directors, membership, and assets of the club.”

“The most significant cost of development is the moving and construction of the courts,” the email concluded, noting that the APTA grants essentially amount to two donated courts, and stressing the importance of finding a reliably permanent location. “Any future need to relocate the courts would be a devastating financial hit for the club. So, we need to get this right from the start.”

MAWBY plots downtown Traverse City expansion

MAWBY, Leelanau County’s longest-running winery, is looking to set up shop in downtown Traverse City – a groundbreaking move for the winery, whose sole tasting room has always been the one on Elm Valley Road near Suttons Bay.

Last week, the Traverse City Ticker reported that MAWBY was planning to partner with the TC-based coffee shop company Mundos on a new “wine/coffee bar concept.” Explaining the idea, MAWBY’s Peter Laing said the concept would “connect the coffee drinker, the wine connoisseur, and the foodie under one roof.”

MAWBY will establish a presence at the coffee company’s location at 305 West Front Street downtown – with wine tasting and bottle sales “incorporated seamlessly into the space.” Customers at Mundos 305 will be able to order “any combination of Mundos coffee and food items and MAWBY/bigLITTLE wine products from the same person in a single transaction,” per Laing. bigLITTLE is a boutique wine brand from Peter and Mike Laing that is co-located on the same property as MAWBY.

At a meeting last Monday, Traverse City commissioners voted unanimously to approve the numerous permits MAWBY and Mundos needed to move forward, including a liquor license registration. MAWBY has since added a page to its website highlighting the new space and encouraging customers to “stay tuned for updates on our opening date and special events.”

Other Leelanau business news tidbits

>Speaking of Dune Bird, the winery recently announced the launch of a new run club. Every Wednesday morning this summer, starting at 8am, runners from throughout the community are invited to come “experience a scenic run past our beautiful estate, cherry orchard, and lake views.” The runs will be about three miles long and runners of any pace or ability are welcome. Each run will be “followed by a relaxing time in our cozy space with the espresso bar open.”

>Enerdyne, one of the longest-running retailers in downtown Suttons Bay, is changing hands. Longtime owners Dick and Pat Cookman sold the business last month to Margo Millard, who Leelanau locals might recognize as the owner of Barb’s Bakery in Northport. The Cookmans opened Enerdyne, a store with a mission of facilitating “an understanding of the natural world and beyond by means of hands-on discovery,” back in 1980. For decades, the store has been a go-to spot in Leelanau County to buy telescopes, binoculars, rocks, minerals, fossils, and science-oriented toys, books, or games.

>Millard has also acquired Brain Storm, which is co-located with Enerdyne in the same building. That shop specializes in “SMART fun,” according to its Facebook page, “offering stuffies, games, toys, and puzzles for all ages.”