[aquadejoe]

Traverse City seems to have it all. What kinds of businesses (small business) does Traverse City need in your opinion? It seems like they have more than enough bars and restaurants. What other types of businesses would you like to see for those of you that live there and/or visit often.

[michmoldman]

how about a huge aquarium with not only critters from the ocean, but also the great lakes.
I have another idea...but thats for me to start when I move there.

[Luzette]

I would expand the art museum. Dennos is nice, but I think it would be great if they could get bigger exhibitions. I would like to see more art inspired businesses.

[Peter B]

A decent Greek restaurant would be a great start. They would make a killing up here The folks around here love Mexican, Burgers, & chicken. More ethnic food would be a plus.

[FESTER]

The fastest way to go **** up in Traverse City is to open a restaurant. I have seen it more times that I could count.That business is VERY competitive. You would be going up against MANY people with LOTS of experience. There is a niche there for a business keep looking. If you don't find it, it may find you.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Peter B

A decent Greek restaurant would be a great start. They would make a killing up here The folks around here love Mexican, Burgers, & chicken. More ethnic food would be a plus.

I don't think there's enough of a large diverse population in TC to support a lot of specialized ethnic restaurants. Even Grand Rapids has a hard time supporting those. Cities like Ann Arbor can do it because they have a huge student population from all over the world.

I think TC would do well with a large science museum, children's museum & aquarium attraction.

[Rapunzll]

Originally Posted by magellan

I don't think there's enough of a large diverse population in TC to support a lot of specialized ethnic restaurants. Even Grand Rapids has a hard time supporting those. Cities like Ann Arbor can do it because they have a huge student population from all over the world.

I think TC would do well with a large science museum, children's museum & aquarium attraction.

I am the only person I know who thought that the old TC Light and Power building on the bay should have been turned into a science museum. I think it's a shame that the building wasn't put to some use such as that. Sure, the view of the bay is more wide open now (and gave me an even better view from my chair at work!) but TC already had more views of the water from the road than the majority of other towns I have ever driven through. People asked me, but what about parking? There was enough room for auto parking there, and for school trips, the buses could have parked in the lot between the CVB and the Chamber. Oh well. It's really a shame because the childrens museum is really only for very small kids and a science museum would be great.

I once wrote Trader Joe's to suggest TC as a place for a store. I think they would do really well.

[Peter B]

That is quite true. I thought about opening a small Greek restaurant but I do not want to work 90hrs a week The only remotely Greek food to be found is a place called "Opa". But, no liquor license, minimal choices, no atmosphere, and very mediocre food. One of the large churches in TVC has a Greek dinner sale once a year as a fund raiser. Each of the last 4 years, they have sold over 1000 dinners in about 6 hours. So, the demand is there & I think whoever takes the plunge ( I still think about it & have about $100k to start it up), will be hugely successful, especially if it's a small place w/less than 20 tables which will enable winter profitabiltity IMO.

Originally Posted by magellan

I don't think there's enough of a large diverse population in TC to support a lot of specialized ethnic restaurants. Even Grand Rapids has a hard time supporting those. Cities like Ann Arbor can do it because they have a huge student population from all over the world.

I think TC would do well with a large science museum, children's museum & aquarium attraction.

[Rapunzll]

Doesn't the U and I have some Greek food?

[jsqueezer]

I'm probably way off base, since I haven't lived in Traverse City, but the last time I was there, I noticed lots and lots of retirees. Many looking quite well-to-do. What do they spend their money on? What do they want or need?
Snow removal services. Handyman services. Grocery delivery. Catering. Hobby-type things like yarn/needlepoint store, wood shop tools, pet supplies. Travel services like RV storage, winterizing service.
Just off the top of my tiny mind.