Trader Todd’s Marina to add location on Nautical Mile
When bars and restaurants are allowed to open again after this public health crisis breaks, there’s going to be a pentup demand for places to eat and drink in.
One new place scheduled to open in the next few months is a Trader Todd’s restaurant and karaoke bar at the site of the former Lido’s on the Lake/ Andiamo Lakefront Bistro/Rojo Mexican Bistro in St. Clair Shores.
The 7,000-squarefoot, twostory restaurant is at the rear of Trader Todd’s Marina, which opened this past fall at the former Harbor 9 Marina along the city’s Nautical Mile on Jefferson Avenue.
Husband-and-wife team Todd Hyatt and Virginia Carstarphen are in the process of purchasing the property and recently received conditional approval for a liquor license transfer.
Carstarphen said the plan is to create a “boaterfriendly, communityfriendly” casual vibe.
“Our focus will be more of a dining atmosphere on the first floor, and a bar on the second floor,” she said at a recent St. Clair Shores City Council meeting.
The second floor has an outdoor patio with a great view of the lake, she added.
The couple owns a similar venue in Chicago, four blocks from Wrigley Field. The Chicago venue has a menu consisting of bar staples like wings, mozzarella sticks, sandwiches, burgers, along with an extensive list of tropical drinks, along with beer.
The couple purchased the liquor license from
Kas Family Limited Partnership, which was used for the former Lipstick’s Bar on Groesbeck Highway in Clinton Township.
Hyatt, a South Lake High School graduate, said crews worked this past fall on the marina to install new showers and bathrooms, and rebuild the 100-slip docks to be eight inches higher than they were last year. That’s in part due to higher Lake St. Clair water levels.
Once the COVID-19 pandemic ends, we’ll know more about a projected opening date.
In other restaurant news:
• The seasonal Eddie’s Drive-in in Harrison Township is scheduled to open Friday. According to its Facebook page, Eddie’s owners checked with the Macomb County Health Department, which considers the venue a carryout facility.
That means diners can’t sit at tables, but eating in cars is allowable. In order to keep social distance, they will open every other parking spot.
Originally opened in 1987, Eddie’s menu includes a variety of burgers, footlongs, chicken tenders, pizza slices, and old-fashioned malts, shakes, floats and banana splits.
Eddie’s Drive-in is at 36111 Jefferson Avenue, south of Crocker Boulevard. For more information, call 586-469-2345 or visit eddiesdrivein.com.
• The National Coney Island in Clinton Township is back open following a temporary shutdown for remodeling.
Located on Garfield Road near 19 Mile Road, the eatery’s renovations include improvements to the exterior and dining room. It opened for business Monday for drivethrough, carryout, curbside pickup and delivery services, said Devin Blackburn, the chain’s marketing director.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at a later date.
Hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. nationalconeyisland.com.