"The construction of sidewalks on Ames Street has opened up our side of town," Jackie and David Bos of BOS Wine told the Michigan Economic Development Corporation this summer. One detail in the MEDC's September 1 write-up says more than the quote does. Within a month of the new sidewalk going in, Ames Street businesses reported more foot traffic and higher sales "during a period when activity would typically begin to slow."
That puts the real test of the street in October and November, after summer visitors have gone home. This is the first full off-season Ames Street has had as a walkable corridor. The businesses on it have set their fall hours in a way that rewards anyone who knows the pattern. Wednesday through Sunday afternoons, the east side works as its own small downtown, about a block from River Street.
Four Tries, Then a Sidewalk
The work on Ames Street was a long time coming. "They've tried to launch this project three times over 15 years; this is the fourth design for it," Village Council President Tom Stephenson told the MEDC. The version that finally got built started with a $485,000 award from the state's Revitalization and Placemaking 2.0 program in 2023. A $380,000 amendment followed in 2025, bringing state funding to $865,000. With matching money from the Village and the Downtown Development Authority, the total project came to about $1.7 million.
The Village's September 2 release lists the improvements as sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, ADA enhancements, landscaping, signage, furnishings, trees, and streetscape lighting. New lights and banners are meant to match River Street. The MEDC piece describes the corridor as home to more than 20 local businesses.
The early numbers come from the business owners themselves. Nicholas and Geri Lefebre of Ethanology Distillation reported double-digit percentage growth since the sidewalks went in. Kevin Young, owner and general manager of Village Market, reported a sales increase of nearly 5% that he ties to the street being easier to walk. Young described what changed this way: "more residents choosing to stroll to the store for daily needs rather than drive."
The Route the State Walked in August
On August 26, the Village and the DDA hosted an MEDC Economic Development Roadshow on Ames Street. The order of that tour still makes a good walking route.
- The new kiosk map near U.S. 31. This is where the Ames Street sidewalks meet the boardwalk and the pedestrian crossing, so the two halves of downtown now connect on foot.
- The former Portside Cleaners property. It has been vacant since 2000, and it's the one stop on the route with no storefront.
- Village Market, 250 Ames St. It's the grocery store Stephenson had in mind when he said, "if they're walking, they can go to the nearby grocery store."
- BOS Wine Garden, 135 Ames St. BOS received a $25,000 Match on Main grant in 2025.
- Ethanology Distillation, 127 Ames St. The MEDC describes it as a distillery and spirit house built around hyperlocal spirits.
- Masala Magic by Anita, 115 Ames St. The tour ended here. This is the restaurant's second brick-and-mortar location, first reported by the Traverse Ticker in July 2025.
The tour skipped a few stops worth adding. Blue Heron Gallery sits at 131 Ames St, between BOS and Ethanology. Riverwalk Grill, a seasonal waterfront restaurant, is at 106 Ames St. Farther out, the Chamber lists Pearl's New Orleans Kitchen, which serves Cajun-Creole food, at 617 Ames St, and Tiny Traveling Boutique at 703 Ames St.
The Fall Schedule Has a Shape
The fall hours are what matter now. Put side by side, they show a clear pattern.
| Stop | Address | Listed fall hours |
|---|---|---|
| BOS Wine Garden | 135 Ames St | Wed–Thu noon–6, Fri–Sat noon–8, Sun 1–5; closed Mon–Tue |
| Ethanology Distillation | 127 Ames St | Wed 1–8, Thu–Sat 1–10, Sun 1–7; closed Mon–Tue |
| Masala Magic by Anita | 115 Ames St | Mon and Wed–Sat 11:30–8:30, Sun noon–7; closed Tue |
| Blue Heron Gallery | 131 Ames St | Daily 11–5, April through December |
| Village Market | 250 Ames St | Mon–Thu 6 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat 6 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun 7 a.m.–10 p.m. |
BOS publishes its hours under the heading "FALL 2026 HOURS," and Ethanology posts its own fall schedule. Hours for Masala Magic, Blue Heron, and Village Market come from their Chamber directory listings. Call ahead before planning an evening around them.
The pattern is simple. Wednesday through Saturday, from about 1 p.m. until early evening, you can walk from the grocery store to a gallery, then to a wine garden, a distillery, and dinner without moving the car. Sunday works too on a shorter schedule. On Tuesday, all three of the food and drink stops in the table are closed, and only Blue Heron and Village Market stay open. Monday dinner on Ames Street means Masala Magic. For a late Saturday, Ethanology's 10 p.m. close is the latest of the bunch.
Riverwalk Grill is labeled seasonal, and its own site shows two different closing times, so check before you walk over. Pearl's and Tiny Traveling Boutique send customers to their websites and social pages for current hours.
Two Familiar Names on Pause
Not everyone on the street is open. Ames Street Cafe's website says it is closed for a full remodel "for a good while," with no reopening date. In the meantime, the cafe pointed spring and summer customers to Alley Cat's Eats + Sweets at Ethanology. Alley Cat's now says its season is over and that it will stay closed until it announces future locations or pop-ups. For daytime food on Ames Street this fall, that leaves Masala Magic's 11:30 a.m. opening and the Village Market deli case.
October 10 Brings Ames Street Into Witches Night Out
The Elk Rapids Area Chamber's Witches Night Out is Saturday, October 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. It runs through downtown and along Ames Street, with pop-ups, contests, giveaways, deals, and bingo cards at participating stores. On Ames Street, Ethanology will be open with a spooky drink feature, and Masala Magic will be open too. BOS is hosting pop-ups from Tiny Traveling Boutique and Maria's Hot Sauce.
The timing falls on a Saturday evening, when Ethanology stays open until 10 and BOS until 8. Anyone with a bingo card can walk the east-side stops on the new sidewalk, then stay on Ames Street for dinner once the event wraps up. Later in the month, BOS lists limited hours of noon to 5 p.m. on October 31.
What Changes at Each End of the Street
The next changes are planned for the two ends of the corridor. At the far end, the Elk Rapids District Library is building its new home at 8980 Cairn Highway. The library board bought the building in February 2024. The library's update page lists demolition work on the annex in March 2026, groundbreaking in July 2026, and an estimated move-in of spring 2027. Stephenson called the new library the next big project along the corridor and "the anchor at the end of Ames Street." For now, library programs continue at 300 Isles of Pine.
Closer to U.S. 31, the former Portside Cleaners property is moving toward cleanup. At the Roadshow, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy gave an update on the site. The DDA has been coordinating between the state agency and the property owners, and environmental remediation is expected to begin in June 2027. If both timelines hold, the grocery store and the vacant lot at one end of the walk will be matched by a new library at the other end within the next year.
On River Street, the change runs the other way. Barbara Mullaly plans to close Mullaly's 128, her gallery at 128 River St, by the end of the year. She retires after 12 years on the Village Council, with her last term ending in November, according to the July 9 Elk Rapids News. She offered retirement specials during the October 3 ART BEAT gallery tour. That tour linked her gallery with Blue Heron on Ames Street and Twisted Fish on South Bayshore Drive for the 21st year. Her gallery is still open for now, so there's time for one more visit before the end of the year.
Questions about Ames Street, the new library site, or how all this is reshaping Elk Rapids' east side are the kind we enjoy answering. The Crane Group follows these village projects closely, and we're happy to talk through what's planned for either end of the street. Schedule a free consultation and we'll pass along what we know.
