Catt's Lake Street project approved with change to single story

From the Petoskey News-Review: City officials have given their stamp of approval to a revised version of an area company's plan to redevelop two buildings - one of them long vacant - in downtown Boyne City. On Monday, the Boyne City Planning Commission gave its final site plan approval for Catt Development's SOBO Lake Street Building project in the 200 block of South Lake Street. However, the project approved Monday will look much different than what Glen Catt had originally proposed for the site. The revised plan now calls for neither building to be demolished. Instead, both will be renovated for the new uses. The Lakefront Mall building will remain a one-story structure and will be remodeled inside and out to house the 7 Monks Taproom bar/restaurant on the north side and a retail space to the south. The former bus garage building will be renovated and restored inside and out and split into two retail/lease spaces. Full story.

Friggy's SOBO Pub: "When Life Meets Beer"

Owner Jeff Leppala with new sign.

Friggy's SOBO Pub has opened in the space previously occupied by Pippin's restaurant at 5 West Main Street. Friggy's is owned by Jeff and Deb Leppala of Crystal Falls, but they have had a big assist from friend and Boyne City resident Chris Thiel, former co-owner of the 220 Lake Street restaurant. Jeff and Chris are friends from Dewitt High School in the 1980s. 

Thiel says they are designing Friggy's as "an old-fashioned bar" with a menu and prices that will appeal to local residents - "bar food, $7 burgers, sandwiches, hot wings. We will not have anything that is gluten free." His goal is to make it feel like the Eagles Club. He wants to have free peanuts or popcorn, live music and a fun atmosphere. Fun is clearly on tap when you see their beer glasses imprinted with "Friggy's - When Life Meets Beer," a tongue-in-cheek nod to Boyne City's "Where Life Meets Lake" slogan of recent years. To turn on the water in the restroom sinks, you pull on a beer tap, and the men's room features television screens and urinals made from beer kegs. Facebook page.