LIVINGSTON COUNTY — Owners of new local businesses took leaps and opened shops and restaurants in Livingston County communities this year.
From a new brewery to sweet shops, boutiques and a sports bar and restaurant, there are plenty of new places to check out.
Here's a list of ten of our favorite openings in the first half of 2024:
Grand River Brewery: 'Farm-to-table' brewery makes Brighton new home
Jackson-based Grand River Brewery has a new downtown Brighton location at 201 W. Main St. The restaurant, brewhouse and entertainment venue sources ingredients from Michigan farms and makes all their dishes from scratch.
The 'farm-to-table' eatery serves its own beers, crafted in Jackson. They distill their own spirits and source wine from Michigan vineyards and wineries. The joint will also feature live music, arcade games and darts.
Simply Home: Boutique owners expand home décor shop
The two-story Simply Home décor shop at 110 N. Michigan Ave. in downtown Howell is set up to feel like you are walking into someone's home. The new shop opened in April with furniture, lighting, dining and kitchenware, clocks, linens and other home goods. The shop also has a small events space for classes and workshops, and they offer personal shopping services and private shopping events.
Owners Sarah and Steve Davey also revamped Simply Charming Too — across the street at 115 N. Michigan Ave. — to offer more clothing, shoes and fashion accessories.
Salt and Light Kids: Kid-sized 'storefronts' for littles
Salt and Light Kids Co. owners and sisters-in-law Katie Meyers and Hannah Miglia created an indoor playscape with kid-sized "storefronts" at their new children's clothing and gifts boutique at 213 W. Main St., Suite 11, in downtown Brighton.
Parents can book two-hour timeslots for their littles to play in a vet clinic for stuffed animals, a grocery store and diner with toy foods, a fire and police station complete with a jail, and other playscapes. The boutique carries kids clothing, accessories, toys and gifts.
Buffalo Wild Wings: Hartland gets a brand new 'B-Dubs'
A newly constructed Buffalo Wild Wings opened for business this spring at 10530 Hartland Square Drive off M-59 in Hartland Township. The national casual dining and sport bar — which is officially nicknamed B-Dubs — is known for its chicken wings.
Local co-owner Bobby Kramer, who also operates a location in Howell and co-owns nearby Tony Sacco's Coal Oven Pizza, said the new building is a "modern" version of the popular chain — with three garage doors, which can be opened on nice days, and a 27-seat "continuous bar" in the middle. With two video walls and 73 televisions, there isn't a bad seat in the house for watching sports.
McClements Farm: Homesteaders freeze dry candy, produce
After launching their line of sweet treats at local farmers' markets, McClements Farm owners Caleb and Elyse Moore opened their brick-and-mortar shop this spring at 411 Mill Pond Lane in downtown Brighton. It's filled with an array of colorful freeze-dried candies and fruits, along with products from other local businesses.
The business was born from the couple's passion for homesteading and preserving foods. The shop also supports other small businesses by selling products, including raw honey, jams, pickles and peanut butter.
Spun Sugar Shoppe: Candy shop moves to Main Street
Spun Sugar Shoppe owner Mandy Tamborini relocated her storefront to a suite inside 213 W. Main St. in downtown Brighton. The small shop is packed full of her signature cotton candies, other candies, cookies and children's toys. Squeezable squishy toys are a big seller.
Tamborini is keeping the South Lyon storefront at 10630 Rushton Road in Green Oak Township to eventually convert into an event space for birthday parties and other gatherings. She's using the commercial kitchen in the back to spin cotton candy, fill orders and prep for events.
La Finca Tacos: Authentic Mexican fare in town
Israel Quintero opened La Finca Tacos in February at 799 S. Latson Road in Genoa Township near Howell to serve up freshly made Mexican dishes. The menu features several styles of tacos, quesadillas, quesabirria, tortas, burritos, chimichangas, tostadas, nachos, carnitas, chorizo and other dishes.
Quintero's favorite dish growing up in Michoacán — a state on the west coast of Mexico — is his mother's pork carnitas. He's developed his own cooking style working at Asian and Mexican restaurants for about 25 years. He also started a hibachi food truck business, Quintero's Asian Fusion Grill, a couple of years ago.
Michigan Makers Marketplace
Michigan Makers Marketplace, a store filled entirely with Michigan-made items, opened in June at 9720 Village Place Blvd. in the Green Oak Village Place shopping center in Green Oak Township near Brighton. The marketplace carries items from over 100 vendors, including clothing, foods, candles, jewelry, purses, signs and furniture.
Heather Fulghum started Michigan Makers craft shows a few years ago before securing the approximately 6,000-square-foot brick-and-mortar location. Vendors operate on three-month contracts. After the first three months, they're given the opportunity to renew or cancel their contract. New vendors are drawn from the waitlist.
Inspired Décor and More: Shop aims to make homes more beautiful
Inspired Décor and More opened in July at 6111 Grand River Ave. in Genoa Township between Brighton and Howell. The shop sells home décor and clothing and hosts children's birthday parties and classes. Local vendors sell items at the store, which also has an interior decorating service.
Owner Gina Jurries and her daughter, Kasey Kasprzak, purchased the building in 2016 and operated Beeyond Treasures until 2019, before selling the business. Beeyond Treasures is among new stores at Tanger Outlets in Howell. Kasprzak now owns Tanner’s Trove, which sells discount liquidation merchandise and will be a vendor at Inspired.
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Making connections with permanent jewelry, gifts
Shopkeeper Karrie Stone links customers up with customizable, permanent jewelry at her new shop, One Link at a Time, which also sells gifts and features "selfie" stations, at 10611 E. Grand River Ave. in Brighton Township. The shop opened in July by appointment only. Stone plans to begin regular hours two days a week sometime in August.
Customers choose a chain — yellow, white, rose gold or silver — and customize the bracelet, necklace, ring or anklet with charms and gems. Stone welds the chain together. The shop also has a "bead bar" for children, with a selection of colorful and funky beads and charms, and spots for "selfies," including an antique clawfoot tub filled with plastic "bubbles."
— Contact reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com.
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