TRAVERSE CITY — Walk into the new Sisters restaurant at 542 W. Front in Traverse City adjacent to Lil Bo Restaurant and Bar and it’s hard to connect that it’s the same space as the liquor store that used to be there. All windows and sunshine and mellow shades of yellow, pink and green with whimsical art of waffles, cocktails and sparkles dancing across the front, it exudes light and feels welcoming.
That’s not a bad vibe to start the morning. And it’s what sisters Lisa and Jenni Scott had in mind as they get ready to launch their new breakfast-lunch venture adjacent to Lil Bo, which they own with other family members.
“We want a bright, inviting space with an essence of mom’s kitchen table for everyone,” Jenni says.
Sisters is opening sometime in April with a menu entirely separate from Lil Bo but with the food coming out of the shared kitchen the Scotts just created as part of building out the new restaurant.
Jenni and Lisa, along with their parents Doug and Marge Scott and Lisa’s husband, Matt Gaffy, purchased Lil Bo in 2021. Jenni is the owner/operator, having run her Betty’s Hot Dish food truck in various locations around the area for eight years along with a second truck stationed at Fountain Point Resort in Leelanau County. Running the kitchen at Lil Bo has been a big — and welcome — change, though she still likes to get out and go in a food truck every now and then.
“A food truck is a little like camping every day,” Jenni says. “(At Lil Bo) you can just fire up your stove at a moment’s notice. It’s been nice to be located downtown and not moving around for a little bit.”
Also, the sisters grew up in nearby Central neighborhood. Working in the same area has just felt right, they say. “For us, it’s been amazing to be right on Front Street,” Lisa says. “We love the west side and are so grateful to the great regulars we have.”
Sisters became an opportunity when Front Street Liquor went up for sale. The Scotts saw the potential not only for the new restaurant, but to carve out space to enlarge Lil Bo’s very small kitchen.
“When we found out the space was available, we were brainstorming and knew that the kitchen could be expanded, but also it would be another opportunity either to start another restaurant or expand Bo’s and we didn’t want to mess with the integrity of Bo’s and what it is and the history there,” Jenni says. “We thought opening a breakfast restaurant was something that was needed in town.”
Adds Lisa, “We shared a wall with Front Street Liquor, so we went for it. We realized it was the right opportunity at the right time.”
After the purchase, they decided to wait out last summer’s construction along Grandview Parkway before starting renovations.
“We ripped out everything that as in there,” Lisa says. “The floors were all uneven. This building is from 1931 or 1932. We put in a new bathroom — we put in everything — drywall and a completely new kitchen.”
In the meantime, they’ve been working on the menu as they wrap up finishing touches on the place. Some of the food they’re planning evolves from when Jenni was offering breakfast at Lil Bo for a while.
“She called it ‘Saturday morning cartoons,’” Lisa explains. “She took a year and worked on her menu — she saw what people wanted, what was working, and we felt really great about the idea of breakfast.
“There’s great breakfast opportunities in Traverse City, but there’s always long waits. So we thought this would be a great little niche.”
Patrons will find classic brunch dishes like eggs benedict and chicken and waffles. There will be a smashburger instead of a regular hamburger, though they note that the more traditional one they offer at Lil Bo is the restaurant’s biggest seller. An ice cream machine behind the bar will churn out Dole Whip, which they plan to incorporate into some drinks including mimosas.
“We have some new items we’re going to be trying out, too, so we’re excited about just the whole shebang,” Jenni says.
And they named their restaurant Sisters because, well, the obvious.
“We are sisters, we are in business together, and Jenni and I also have a strong support of sisterhood through our friendships and closest friends throughout the years,” Lisa says. “It’s recognizing that.”
Sisters will be open serving breakfast, lunch and cocktails from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Their business model calls for the space to be available for private events in the evenings. They’re also hoping to offer outdoor seating.