Bussiness
List: 24 businesses that opened, remodeled or moved in Holland in 2024
HOLLAND — It’s true that Holland lost businesses in 2024, but it also saw plenty of gains in retailers, restaurants and remodels.
Here, we’ve compiled a (nonexhaustive) list of some of our favorites:
Culture Cheese Shop
In December 2023, Liz Sluiter opened a brick-and-mortar location for Culture Cheese Shop at 211 River Ave. in Holland. Only months later, she learned the street-facing shop in the same building, Anna Interiors, was closing.
Sluiter leapt at the opportunity to expand, and reopened in the new space Friday, Aug. 2.
“I feel like we’ve climbed a mountain and have finally made it to the top and can appreciate the view,” Sluiter told The Sentinel in August. “This is an amazing spot. We can see all the people walking down River Avenue, we’re catching their eye and there’s going to be a lot more visibility. I think it’s already made a difference.”
More space means more offerings, including (obviously) cheese, but also wine, beer, ciders and mixed spirits. Sluiter plans to enjoy the new space and settle in before transforming the back area into a spot for high-end grilled cheese sandwiches.
Bubs’ and Betty’s
Bubs’ and Betty’s — a pup lover’s dream — opened in a shared space with Photo Images by Carl at 202 S. River Ave. in June. The couple behind the business, Veejay and Heather Gahir, met in Holland a quarter-century ago. They eventually moved to Milford, fell in love with a local business, and missed that business terribly after returning to West Michigan in 2021.
That business was Bubs’ and Betty’s. Holland lost Decadent Dogs, once located in the neighboring storefront, only a year before, and the Gahirs felt there was a need to be filled. They purchased Bubs’ and Betty’s, moved the store from Milford, and learned Carl Caylor was willing to share his storefront. The rest is history.
The gift shop, in part, focuses on dogs, their owners and the people who love them. It carries dog-themed apparel, dog collars and bandanas, and dog toys and treats.
“The community has been so supportive,” Heather said in June. “It’s been great. People that have come into the shop and everyone has said this is amazing and really what they were looking for.”
Glik’s Men’s
Glik’s Men’s, part of a longstanding brand on Eighth Street, moved from 8 W. Eighth St. to 28 E. Eighth St. on Oct. 2, filling the former Glad Rags, which closed in 2023. The new space added 1,700 square feet to the store’s footprint, and is located just across the street from Glik’s Boutique.
Clovier
In the wake of vacating space at 8 W. Eighth Street, Glik’s opted to open a third location in downtown Holland with the introduction of Clovier. The women’s boutique, a new concept for the brand, is meant to be a “one-of-a-kind” shop delivering fashions from lines like Vero Moda, Thread and Supply, and Elan. Clovier hosted a ribbon cutting and grand opening Friday, Oct. 25.
The store’s name is derived in part from the name of the company’s first shop (The Good Luck Store) and the Dutch word for the number four (Vier). Glik’s has served Holland for over 10 years, and is run by fourth and fifth generation family members.
The retailer, based in Illinois, was founded in 1897.
B&N Sandwiches
Eight months after signage appeared in Holland Township, B&N Sandwiches opened at 1011 136th Ave. in June.
The restaurant already has a location in Grand Rapids. The menu includes sandwiches, egg rolls, noodle soup, rice dishes and pho. The eatery’s drink menu is expanded, with boba milk tea, fruit teas, coffee and more.
B&N fills the former home of Don Miguel Restaurant, which moved to 264 N. River Ave. in 2021. The building, listed at 1,788 square feet and built in 2004, was once home to La Hacienda and Ice Cream Forest and Restaurant.
Olive Garden
Perhaps the most attended opening along the lakeshore came in January, when Olive Garden opened in the former Golden Corral at 12420 Felch St. Months later, residents are still urged to sign up for the waitlist online before heading to the restaurant.
McAlister’s Deli
There was one less eyesore along US-31 in Holland Township with the transformation of Steak ‘n Shake into the new McAlister’s Deli at 2288 North Park Drive. The business opened in September.
Gone are the signature roof and color scheme Steak ‘n Shake, replaced with a reformatted drive-thru lane and a covered outdoor seating area. McAlister’s has over 550 locations across the United States, including eight in Michigan. The only location in West Michigan is in Wyoming.
McAlister’s is known for handcrafted sandwiches, salads, baked potatoes and sweet tea.
Chalo Indian Kitchen
Chalo Indian Kitchen opened in the former Rock’N Roosta in The Shops at Westshore in October. The opening marks the second restaurant for Sharmila Rajeshkumar and her husband, who also operate Grand Indian Cuisine in Grand Rapids.
Chalo follows a grab-and-go concept to match the name — which means “Let’s Go!” — Rajeshkumar said. Orders can be placed via walk in, phone or online.
Customers can order a variety of curries served with naan, an appetizer and rice. Other highlights include butter chicken, paneer butter masala, lamb curry, tandoori chicken and mango lassi.
Lady Bird
Lady Bird opened at 149 Griffith St. in Saugatuck in February. The restaurant is a collaboration between Chef Matt Bush and his wife, Allison Maxwell. It’s the couple’s third restaurant, joining Bird Dog in Mattawan and Dog and The Bank in Plainwell.
Renovations to the building included exterior paint, the removal of ivy, a completely updated upstairs apartment, a revamped bar and restaurant, and a new walk-in cooler. The structure has served many purposes over the years. It was originally a house, then became Lucy’s Little Kitchen. Most recently, it was Saugatuck Fish Camp.
7 Brew Coffee
After a very long wait, customers finally lined up for coffee at 7 Brew in September. The new drive-thru coffee shop, located on the former site of Boston Market, sat empty for months after construction wrapped up, due to a change in franchise ownership.
The business shares the land with a Take 5 Oil Change. 7 Brew has 192 stands in operation, including two in Traverse City. The shop specializes in lattes, mochas, teas, smoothies, shakes and fizzes.
Good Earth Café
In a grand return, Good Earth Café reopened in a new location in Holland in June. The business was once located in a standalone building on Seventh Street, but has since moved into the Towers on River.
New owners Todd and Michelle Girdis have kept the menu as similar as possible, specializing in breakfast and lunch with a wide variety of flavored bagels, cream cheeses, breads, muffins, casseroles, sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads.
Foxtail Coffee
Foxtail, located in the former Ferris Coffee, held a grand opening Friday, Aug. 9. The business, established in Florida in 2016, revamped the space with rustic décor, a new seating arrangement and a full craft coffee menu, plus light food and gelato.
The building at 55 E. Eighth St. was once home to JP’s Coffee. Ferris purchased the business in 2015, underwent a partial remodel in 2016, then closed in 2017 for a full remodel. Upon reopening, the shop decided against using the western half of the storefront, which was eventually leased out to Big Fish Sportwear.
Foxtail features a 50-foot mural from local artist Sue Mulder.
Reservoir
Reservoir at 2155 Ottawa Beach Road opened to the public Monday, May 27, in the former Playa Tacos and Tequila (and, before that, Ottawa Beach Inn). The restaurant is owned by Corina Sepsakos and her husband Vasilios, who also own Brick and Porter and Brickyard Tavern in Grand Rapids.
The restaurant serves “upscale Italian-American cuisine” with breakfast, lunch and dinner services, plus vegetarian and vegan dishes. Sepsakos also plans to offer fan favorites from the former Ottawa Beach Inn.
Sprinkles Donuts
After months and months of anticipation, Sprinkles Donut Shop opened at 62 W. Eighth St. in April. The business planned to open in 2023, but was delayed by nearly a year.
Sprinkles is located in the former Market Zero and sells a variety of cake donuts, yeast raised donuts, muffins, cupcakes and other specialty items. There are plans for a second brand, Urban Sliders, in the same location with sliders, soup and salads.
Public Restaurant
Returning after more than two years’ absence in downtown Zeeland, Public Restaurant reopened Tuesday, June 25. The restaurant at 131 E. Main Ave. in Zeeland has plenty of similarities, but saw some interior and recipe tweaks.
Lucas Grill, who owns 1983 Restaurants, was able to bring back many of his former team members, with about 80% of staffers returning for the grand opening.
Sierra
The new Sierra in the former Bed, Bath and Beyond at Felch Street Plaza opened in October. According to the company’s website, Sierra launched in 1986 with a single warehouse and a hand-drawn catalog. The company opened its first retail store in Sparks, Nevada, in 1990.
In 2012, Sierra was acquired by TJX Companies, which also owns TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and several other brands. The store carries products that “encourage an active lifestyle year-round” with a diverse range of gear and apparel.
The Gritzmaker
The Gritzmaker Social House opened Monday, July 1, at 120 E. Main St. in Zeeland. The restaurant offers lunch, dinner and late night drinks.
The eatery is owned by Scott Ingersoll, who also owns Mill Creek Tavern in Comstock Park. Ingersoll helped open The Win Tavern 33 and Bird Dogs in Jenison, the latter of which closed in March.
Retro Bakery
More sweet treats were announced in Saugatuck with the opening of Retro Bakery at 3217 Blue Star Highway in June.
The business itself launched over a year ago, when Eric Peterson of Fennville decided to leave mortgage banking behind. Peterson uses classic recipes dating back to the 1950s and offers cakes, cupcakes, cookies, bread, cinnamon rolls and more.
Tell-Tales Trattoria
After an ownership change, the Paisley Pig of Holland rebranded to Tell-Tales Trattoria. The restaurant celebrated its final day as the Paisley Pig on Saturday, Aug. 24.
The new restaurant is separate from Grand Haven’s Paisley Pig. The building at 1642 S. Shore Drive was previously home to Black Sheep Baa and Grill, until the Paisley Pig purchased the business in 2019.
Tell-Tales focuses on Italian cuisine, with specialty pizzas, chicken alfredo, stuffed peppers, beef bolognese and spaghetti tacos for younger diners.
Ottawa Beach General Store
Ottawa Beach General Store reopened in a brand new building on Friday, May 24. The original building, constructed 85 years ago, was torn down in September 2023 after ownership determined it had reached the end of its useful life. Despite efforts to rehabilitate it, the foundation was crumbling.
The new building closely resembles the original, with the same roofline, porch and exterior color — all while meeting current construction codes and business needs.
The store at 2256 Ottawa Beach Road is a mainstay for beachgoers and campers, with snacks and drinks, souvenir sweatshirts and t-shirts, camping supplies and ice cream.
Caribbean Sunrise
JK’s Cafe, formerly Albert K’s, was again sold in Park Township in 2024. The restaurant is operating under a new name: Caribbean Sunrise.
The eatery’s re-opening in August was a dream come true for Gadiel Colón, who owns the business at 1819 Ottawa Beach Road with his wife, AnaSue Jaramillo-Colón.
Caribbean Sunrise carries a similar menu to JK’s, serving breakfast and lunch with a touch of American classics. Eventually, the plan is to infuse Puerto Rican flavors and dishes, including Spam.
The business is currently taking a holiday break, but will return in mid-January.
Community Restaurant
After nearly two years of ups and downs, twists and turns, the new Community Restaurant opened for business in January. The long-standing Zeeland eatery on Main Avenue suffered a devastating fire in April 2022. It completely ravaged the restaurant, which tumbled by morning.
But on Monday, Jan. 8, the entire team watched as owner Barry Elzinga re-lit the iconic sign in front of a brand new building.
“There are just so many emotions right now,” Elzinga said prior to unlocking the doors. “I’ve never gone through this. I’ve been in restaurants since 1985 and I’ve been through just about everything, but not this.”
Erica June Baking Co.
Former hair stylist and flight attendant Erica White opened her brick-and-mortar bakery at 435 Water St. in Saugatuck in May. The bakery serves made-from-scratch cinnamon rolls, donuts, cookies and other treats, along with bagels and veteran-owned Three Rivers coffee.
MALU and MALU Café
Uncommon Coffee Roasters expanded their footprint in Saugatuck with the opening of MALU at 302 Culver St. in the former Grow Café and Bistro and MALU Café around the corner at 121 Griffith St.
Both businesses held soft openings in June. MALU serves brunch, while MALU Café has a more limited menu of specialty coffees, drinks and baked goods.
— Cassandra Lybrink is the local editor of The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at clybrink@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @CassLybrink.
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