Nestled between Ludington and Muskegon on the Lake Michigan shoreline, White Lake might just be West Michigan’s best-kept secret.
Full of charming shops and restaurants plus water nearly everywhere you look (White River, White Lake, and Lake Michigan surround the area), visitors flock to White Lake year-round for family vacations, romantic getaways, and holiday retreats. No matter the season, it’s the perfect choice for your next lakeshore visit.
Adding to the appeal, this year, the area continues to expand with the addition of several new businesses. These include a new restaurant, new brewery, new distillery, and the renovation of a beloved playhouse.
Below, we take a look at these new White Lake establishments so that ideally, you’ll be able to enjoy them on your next visit!
Recently Opened: Mylan’s Waterfront Grille
Brothers Myles and Landon Montgomery opened Mylan’s Waterfront Grille earlier this summer in Whitehall to much acclaim. The restaurant features an eclectic menu of “American classics with a modern twist.” The building has also been newly remodeled and upgraded.
Mylan’s sources local spirits and beer from area distilleries and breweries. As for their food menu, the brothers say a large margin of their ingredients are specifically sourced from Michigan farms.
Check out Mylan’s Sunday through Thursday from 11am to 10pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 11pm.
Coming Soon: North Grove Brewers
RJ Nordlund and Jason Jaekel are both Montague natives who dreamed for years of bringing their love for craft beer to the area with a hometown brewpub. Finally, their dreams were realized when they broke ground for North Grove Brewers.
North Grove Brewers will be the brand-new brewery opening up in Montague. Though a set date for the grand opening has not yet been set, Nordlund and Jaekel are constantly hard at work, finishing up the building, brewing equipment, and all the great new brews that will be on tap. From “The Wildcat” (an India pale ale) and “Gue Juice” (a juicy pale ale), to “Back to Back!” (a double IPA) and “Punch the Ticket” (a Belgian dark strong ale), there are numerous brews and cocktails to look forward to.
(There’s even a Steam Beer called “Weathervane,” which we’re especially excited to try!)
Stay up-to-date with the goings-on at the brewery and stay tuned for their opening date by following North Grove Brewers’ Facebook page.
Coming Soon: Artesian Distillers
Although there is also no set date (yet!) for its arrival, Artesian Distillers, a distillery with roots in Grand Rapids, will also be coming to Whitehall in the near future.
Amir Haririan is the owner of Artesian Distillers and former owner of the Hemingway Lounge in Grand Rapids. After the building housing the Hemingway Lounge was sold and their doors forced to close, Haririan was prompted to find a new location for his new venture. He landed on the White Lake Area.
According to the Beacon, Haririan and company are uniquely excited to take up roots in White Lake, stating “For me it has been a really good neighborhood, to come here and see the community of Whitehall, the lake, the tourism, and Grand Rapids is really just too big for me.”
The distillery will be located in the building behind Chen’s restaurant off of Colby Street and will feature a bar and restaurant in addition to the distillery itself. Guests can expect distilled gin, whiskey, and vodka and a collective selection of over 80 unique products. While, again, no set date for the opening of the distillery has been established, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on new developments.
Newly Renovated: The Playhouse at White Lake
Although The Playhouse at White Lake has been a central pillar of the White Lake Community for over 100 years, it has recently undergone a reincarnation of sorts, by way of a $4 million renovation project.
The two-year renovations were finished and the grand reopening of The Playhouse took place in June of 2019. It was at this time that The Playhouse also adopted a new name: The Playhouse at White Lake. The Playhouse was formerly known as The Howmet Playhouse — among various other names — throughout the years.
Renovations revealed at the reopening included a 7,000 square-foot expansion, including a 1,500 square-foot lobby, new dressing rooms and rehearsal space, a brand-new concessions and box office, and large accessible bathrooms. The building’s heating and cooling systems were upgraded, and new sound and lighting equipment, carpet, seats, and stage drapery and rigging were also added.
Local residents and visitors alike are welcome to enjoy the fruits of these outstanding renovations by attending one of the many live performances that take place there year-round. Just check out The Playhouse’s Fall 2019 Events Page to see what’s coming up soon!