Northport Building Supply, which has been serving contractors and DIY-ers for 40-plus years, is expanding its lumberyard building on Mill Street to house a new-and-improved hardware store and showroom. After 45 years operating in the county, The Front Porch took a rare winter break to remodel (with hopes to show off the new look this weekend). In Elmwood Township, fifth-generation blueberry farmers/ice cream confectioners Ben and Lori Buchan are taking over Wares Bros Frosty Treat’s former West Bay location. Meanwhile newcomer Nittolo’s prepares for more growth as staff celebrates one wild year in business this week. The Leelanau Ticker has the latest scoop across the peninsula:

Father-and-son partners Timm and Aaron Sahs of Northport Building Supply have sold the building that housed their independent Ace Hardware Store on Nagonaba Street and moved the whole enterprise to a newly expanded Northport Building Supply store on Mill Street, just north of town.

Timm Sahs, who founded the business with his parents in the 1970s, says they are thrilled to now house the lumberyard, building supply and hardware store under the same roof. “We’ll have more space for inventory, easier access, and more parking,” Sahs says, noting that in addition to meeting the needs of the building and renovation boom in this part of the peninsula, “the main reason to expand is to service people so they don’t have to leave the county.” 

He plans to expand offerings to include sporting equipment, grills and outdoor accessories. “My son is an excellent cook, and we plan to do grilling demonstrations.”

The new hardware store is now open with double the inventory, and this winter they will complete the buildout and renovate the current building supply store into a sleek showroom.

For those who will miss the pine paneling and nostalgic vibes of the 106 Nagonaba Street locale, Sahs says he is aims to “get some of the flair of the old hardware. I am working with local historian Kathy Firestone and the Leelanau Historical Society. We will blow up and display photographs of the county 100 years ago.”

Northport-Omena Chamber President Campbell McLeod shares that the new owners of the former hardware building on Nagonaba will lease the space to an eco-conscious clothing store called The Find North, which will also include homegoods, baby toys, and works of local artisans.

In Elmwood Township, Ben and Lori Buchan are taking over Wares Bros Frosty Treat’s West Bay Shore Drive space and will open a new ice cream shop called Buchan’s West Bay in early April. (Wares Bros Frosty Treat is remodeling its remaining location on South Airport Road and plans to open this spring with combined staff.) The Buchans currently operate their century-old farm Buchan’s Blueberry Hill on Old Mission Peninsula and Scoops 22 in Suttons Bay. Buchan’s West Bay will feature Lori’s homemade ice cream — many of her flavors use local fruits — plus soft serve and simple food items.

“It is basically like Scoops 22, but on a larger scale,” shares Lori Buchan, who is taking applications for staff starting Monday. “We have lots of big plans but right now we just want to get open and start scooping!”

Leelanau County residents Brad and Amy Peterson are celebrating big milestones this year: The couple took over The Front Porch from Jim and Bobbie Eggert 17 years ago on March 1. “We moved here with three boys five and under and all are graduating this year from either college or high school. And it’s our 25th wedding anniversary,” Amy Peterson says. “It’s a big year and at some point, there will be lots to celebrate!” 

But first up? A major renovation of their housewares and gift store, including making the entire space one level, and creating a new kitchen for food demos. The store started in Leland in 1977 on the front porch of the Eggerts’ home and was relocated to Suttons Bay in 1978. It’s been in its current 207 St. Joseph Street location since 1986.

“It’s very exciting to have a fresh look to celebrate our 45th anniversary,” says Peterson. “The ice storm may delay us, but right now I’m saying we’ll be open ‘this weekend’ and all my fingers are crossed.” Stay tuned on social media for updates.  

This week chef/owner Eric Nittolo thanked his culinary team — including several of his children who are staffers — and his adopted town of Lake Leelanau for welcoming his Nittolo’s Restaurants with open arms since their debut in February 2021. What he’s learned one year — and 42,000 wood-fired pizzas — in: “There are some extremely genuine human beings in the area, who are very grateful, very supporting, and who appreciated that someone is open for them.” He notes that consistency was key for the local clientele, and he was open every day this year “except for a couple days around the holidays. We just had 187 guests on a Saturday night mid-winter which shows me tourism might not be at a level 10, but it’s at a 6.”

He says to handle growth, he’s investing in more patio seating outside, and on May 1 will launch a refined Nittolo’s Seafood & Social format. “This will be a seven-course chef’s table — only four tables a night — with food that does not emulate what I do otherwise.” Nittolo’s Pizza will continue with the staple Italian menu including new pastas (such as saffron linguini pomodoro) that he is trying out as part of TC Restaurant Week this week.