More Life in the Dead Zone

New businesses are set to open soon in Sister Bay, bringing some activity to a village that’s struggled filling the empty businesses that pepper the downtown area.

The economic growth is a good sign for the health of the village, according to village administrator Robert Kufrin.

New businesses are opening in downtown Sister Bay, and one old standby, Drink Coffee, is moving locations in the downtown area. Photo by Len Villano.

“These small businesses that are coming in, they’re not playing with somebody else’s money, it’s their hard earned savings,” Kufrin said. “They’re investing in the village.”

Sister Bay hired Vandewalle & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm, for $40,820 to create a plan to help the village market five empty parcels in the downtown area.

Vandewalle & Associates, Inc. will release a survey to the public asking for input on what people would like to see in the future of Sister Bay. A public meeting will be held to discuss a draft of the plan at the village fire station on April 16 at 6 pm.

“The only way to encourage someone, or to create the opportunity, for someone to see the potential of those sites is to do a study and create a vision of downtown,” Kufrin said. “If someone comes here, they’ll know that if they [open a business modeled after] an idea that was in the plan there will already be support for it and they won’t be faced with lots of opposition.”

But even before a development plan for the downtown area is created or released, business is shaping up in Sister Bay. Next summer, the village will be home to some new places to eat and shop, and an old favorite will be in a new location.

Keep reading to learn more about future Sister Bay businesses.

Viva; real live food bar

A new, healthy café will open in the Cedar Shops in downtown Sister Bay to serve hungry beachgoers who are looking for something fresh and local.

“There’s not many healthy options for kids in downtown Sister Bay who are always hanging out at the beach, and we wanted to provide something like that,” said Isabel Moriarty.

Moriarty and Iaian McNeil will open Viva on May 1, and serve juice, smoothies and sandwiches made of organic, locally-sourced food. Moriarty’s family has a nearby garden and will provide most of the produce.

Wild Tomato

Sara and Britt Unkefer, owners of Wild Tomato in Fish Creek, purchased the former Sister Bay Café location in downtown Sister Bay. They plan to open this summer with a snack bar style restaurant, serving foods like salads, smoothies, sandwiches, beer and wine.

“We’re trying to create some items that people might be looking for at the beach,” Sara said.

The Unkefers plan to open a full Wild Tomato restaurant at the location in 2014.

Door County Creamery

Jesse Johnson plans to open an artisan cheese factory and shop in the yellow building in downtown Sister Bay, and will call the business the Door County Creamery.

The future site of the Door County Creamery. Photo by Len Villano.

He plans to make cheese from the goats on his farm on County Highway ZZ in a building behind the store, and sell cheese, gelato and sandwiches in the storefront on State Highway 42.

“We thought it would be kind of cool to get people involved in the process,” Johnson said. “They’ll know the milk’s coming right from the farm, into the dairy plant, then right to the consumer.”

Johnson is from Sister Bay, and chose to open the creamery there because it’s where he likes to spend time. Sister Bay is where people from Door County live and work, he said, and it feels like real life.

Drink Coffee

The future site of Drink Coffee. Photo by Len Villano

Drink Coffee has been in Sister Bay for over a decade, and owner Rachel Lohman decided it was time for her to buy property rather than rent. She’s moving the business down the street to the old Moretti’s pizza parlor location.

“It was a chance to get some equity instead of paying rent, and it seemed like a good move,” Lohman said.

Although the old Drink Coffee business model was successful, Lohman plans to expand the lunch and breakfast menu because the new location has a full kitchen.

She hopes to open in the new location in early May.

Cupcake Heaven

The old Drink Coffee location will not go vacant this summer. Jenny Walker has leased the building and is opening a cupcake bakery, called Cupcake Heaven.

The future site of Cupcake Heaven. Photo by Len Villano.

“Every time we’d come through Chicago on our way home we went to our favorite cupcake shop,” Walker said. “I fell in love with the idea and said ‘Door County doesn’t have anything like that.’”

Walker has been operating Cupcake Heaven online since she started the business, and in September hosted a free tasting event. She hopes to open the store in May, and plans to continue catering cupcakes for events like baby showers and weddings.

Country Walk

The Country Walk Shops aren’t technically located in downtown Sister Bay, but they’re home to many village businesses.

Kelly Zak, owner of Eklipse hair salon and a member of the Country Walk Owners Association board, said a new business is coming to the Country Walk Shops. The former Quilter’s Quest unit was purchased, and the incoming business is a combination ice cream parlor and jewelry store. Details on the store were not available.

Children’s Clothing Store

Kufrin said an upscale children’s clothing resale store will be opening downtown behind the Door County Confectionery. Details on the store were not available.