re-opening full-time Friday
After a year of hardship, Locals Lake Leelanau has officially cleared all hurdles and obtained all permits to serve and distill alcohol, along with its smoke barbecue and more.
“I have no problem sharing this with the world, but it’s totally God’s timing. I learned so much through the process. Looking at the last year and some of the challenges we had, that’s even motivated me more with everything I’ve learned,” West said. “Some people would say ‘that’s crazy talk’, but it’s the truth. In just the last few months, I knew we were getting closer. I could feel even the energy with my staff and me pick up. This is the momentum we need.”
Locals Lake Leelanau will host a Saturday party from noon to 10 p.m. to celebrate the good news, featuring multiple bands, a special food giveaway, and games. Loophole will be playing from noon to 4 p.m. Drew Hale will be rocking the restaurant from 7 to 10 p.m.
The restaurant will open fulltime Friday.
West took over the former Thunderbird gift shop and, in February 2025, transformed it into Locals Lake Leelanau restaurant.
West couldn’t go many places within the community without hearing various questions and jokes he had been getting over the past year.
“I couldn’t fill up my gas without someone saying, ‘Hey, what’s going on with the liquor license?” West said. “Every time, I just had a smile on my face because I knew the process that was going on.”
The Lake Leelanau restaurant and caterer announced last week that processes and investigations through the Michigan Liquor Control Commission are complete.
“It’s no secret that (alcohol) is the driving force of the experience, especially in a region that’s built around agriculture, experience and wine,” West said. “We are in wine country, this is where it’s at ... Getting the license finalized is the exclamation point on the full experience.”
Last year, Locals Lake Leelanau couldn’t serve beer and didn’t have any live music.
West admits it was tough not being able to serve beer with brisket or sauvignon blanc with a salad.
“People would apologize to me. They would say, sorry,” West said. “You don’t need to say sorry to me at all. I’m the guy who wants you to enjoy it the most. It’s a big driving part of the revenue and the whole experience.”
West has been pivoting with the catering side of the business and has booked well over 100 catering dates for 2026.
“The catering is no secret. It helped me keep going through the months when it was really tough. And the word of mouth with the catering was awesome too,” he said. “I was getting calls daily about doing an event. And people would say to me, ‘your parking lot looks empty.’ … That’s because we’re off-site doing a 100-person party down at the life-saving station. This year I have a couple of weddings up in Charlevoix, then on top of that, some awesome open houses are coming up.”
Locals Lake Leelanau secured a manufacturing, small distiller’s license, tasting room, and winemaking licenses to go along with any catering permits that also include retail sales on Sundays.
“We had to incorporate some fun little quirky ones with a dance floor license for live music. Those types of licenses allow me to focus on not just manufacturing and making some really cool products inhouse, but partnering with a lot of local vendors, and wineries and cideries to make custom branded items,” West said. What “I’d like to say to our customers is just thank you. It’s been a year. But we’re ready for this next year. Getting this license doesn’t mean that we are at the finish line. It means that we’re at the starting block of the new journey.”
West, originally from Denver, Colorado, and a graduate of Traverse City Central in 2000, has lived in the area for nearly two decades. During that time, he has served as food and beverage director for several businesses, including the past 11 years at the Leland Lodge.
“It’s time to step on the gas pedal and have some fun,” West said.
Locals Lake Leelanau is a full-service restaurant, catering, and retail shop concept unique to the past and present of Lake Leelanau.
A retail and gift shop focuses on local products, from clothing to honey to cherries, located in the restaurant.
