Cedar native Katie Graham plans to open a gift shop, LL Narrows, in Lake Leelanau this May.

“We will be in the building with Peddling Beans, offering all sorts of souvenirs, including Lake Leelanau apparel, plus home decor items, greeting cards, toys, cherry products and other Leelanau-made items. My goal is to be a go-to gift shop for locals and souvenir shop for visitors.”

Graham grew up in Cedar and lived in the Upper Peninsula for 15 years where she met husband Kurtis. They returned to area in 2017 and are raising seven kids. The Grahams also own a construction company, Graham Builders.

Katie Graham says the idea of opening up shop in Lake Leelanau appealed to her as it’s “such a hidden gem. It can get overshadowed by Leland and Suttons Bay, but to me it is the best little town. I love driving our boat through The Narrows waving as we pass others and head out to the sandbar. A lot of our merchandise is based on The Narrows and sandbar because of that.”

The building is being remodeled now, with an opening planned for May 1.

Also in Lake Leelanau: Following the launch of Nittolo’s Pizza in late February, chef Eric Nittolo and family plan to open a second venture within the former Bella Fortuna space at 104 Main Street. Come April, Nittolo’s Seafood & Social will offer a fresh fish-focused, fine dining menu — salmon, seabass, bluefin tuna, lamb, waygu. To kick things off — for the month of April only — Nittolo is offering three-course meals for $39. The white-tableclothed dining room will be open daily from 11am to 3:30pm, and the Seafood & Social menu will be served anytime at the outdoor patio bar. The “social” part comes 3:30pm–5pm daily: 1/2 off food and 1/3 off drinks. The dinner hour starts promptly at 5:30pm. Nittolo says the pizzeria and its wood-fired oven will still also be running full tilt.