Established in 2007, the place was named in memory of Steve’s son, Alex, who died that year at the age of 15 in a tragic snowmobile accident. The entire family was devastated, and Steve, who was deep in mourning, had a hard time continuing with his plans to open the store. This is when Vera, Alex’s mom, suggested they name it after Alex. “This is a memorial to him,” says Nick. “It helped us through the grieving process to open it in his honor.” So, the family worked to make the place worthy of Alex’s memory. Nick said his father didn’t care if he made money or not, he just wanted the memory of his son to live on.
In 1978, a two-year renovation of the hotel was undertaken by George and two other investors, with painstaking precautions taken to preserve its rich history – from lusty brawls and ghost sightings to an axe-yielding Prohibitionist. And while the history and ambiance are enticing, it’s the classic and creative American cuisine that Holly Hotel patrons say makes this a destination for the ages. George, the Executive Chef, is the driving force behind the food. “We run a very formal kitchen,” says Chrissy. Every Tuesday, George and his staff visit the farmer’s market, where seasonal fruits and vegetables are hand-picked. According to Chrissy, several of the signature entrées are made from the same recipes used since the hotel’s re-inception in 1978, including filet of beef Wellington, amaretto whitefish, chicken strudel, lingonberry duck, baby lamb and Norwegian salmon. The chicken strudel, which is Chrissy’s favorite, is made with shredded organic hen, broccoli, French cheese, euro cream, filo dough and served with a raspberry coulis. “It’s amazing!” she exclaimed. The beef Wellington is a customer favorite made with bacon-roasted filet mignon en croute, mushroom duxelle, Gruyère and demi-glace.
The Artisan Village is also a showplace for 20 Michigan artists to display their work. Flying off the shelves are very popular granite cheese boards. “They sell like hotcakes,” John laughed. Also on display are bird houses, clothing by Michigan Outfitter, copper sculptures, glass bead work by Ann Marie Frances, Christmas ornaments, candles and other unique gifts. “Every artist here has a story,” says John, “and each artist is unique.” Also on display is something near and dear to John’s heart – a collection of books written by his father, John LaCroix. “He is the reason I started this store,” John explained. John has written several books, including his popular children’s series, Thimbledon.
Begun in the Motown basement of Mr. Perry Dorrance in 1935, the Detroit Model Railroad Club is the eighth-oldest club in the United States, and will celebrate its 80th anniversary in the coming year. The Detroit Union Railroad model fills nearly the entire space of the building. Only the balcony in the back is left open for the dispatch center and the club’s extensive model railroading library. The club’s building plays a very important role in the railroad’s set-up. “This building was a movie theater, so the floor slopes downward. When we purchased it, we were going to build up the floor to make it level, but a few of our more forward-thinking members saw how we could make the grade work to our advantage.” Instead of building up the floor, the members built the track horizontally so that the sloping floor underneath it allows members to navigate through the railroad’s extensive infrastructure with relative ease, “although it gets more difficult the more we age,” Dave laughed. While the club boasts 75 members of all ages, “our median hovers in the retirement age group,” Dave quipped.
Main Street Antiques on Saginaw Street is home to more than 40 vendors selling an unusual mix of items, from antique furniture, retro décor and vintage clothing to fine glassware, museum quality art, and early American and Native American items. But the store also has rather “spirited” history, according to Lynn Hay, who co-owns the store with her husband, Mark. The couple had so many ghostly events there that they decided to reach out to paranormal investigators. Their ghost story was featured in a book, Haunted Travels of Michigan, Volume II and on the SyFy Channel’s “Paranormal Witness,” in an episode called “Lady on the Stairs.” The show depicts the haunting the Hays experienced and the bizarre historical evidence they uncovered.
Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth has the bragging rights to the title of “America’s Largest Family Restaurant.” Today, it is operated by the third and fourth generations of the Zehnder family, who continue to look for ways to keep their restaurant a vibrant tourist destination.
Creamy fudge, light and luscious fresh-water taffy, decadent candies and candied nuts, sugar cookies, cupcakes topped with frostings of every imaginable flavor … there’s something to satisfy any sweet tooth in Frankenmuth! Walking down Main Street, you simply cannot escape the smell of sugary, chocolate goodness that wafts from the Frankenmuth Fudge Kitchen. The rich, luscious fudge is made from the original Michigan recipe in a copper kettle and hand-paddled on a thick marble slab. “Fudge is definitely our biggest seller,” says Lillian Fergent, one of the managers. Other sweet offerings include taffy, caramel, brittles and gourmet popcorn.
For a sip of history that’s downright delicious, stop by Michigan’s oldest brewery, Frankenmuth Brewing Company. Its six mainstay beers – American Blond, Batch 69, Hefeweizen, Pilsner and Red Sky – are produced using the traditional Reinheitsgebot, or German Beer Purity Law. A selection of exciting and popular specialty and seasonal beers are also offered. “Our Christmastown brew is now available,” said Ryan Buchinger, General Manager. “With hints of cinnamon and ginger, it tastes like Christmas in a bottle!” FBC also produces ten unique wines under its 1862 Cellars label, the name derived from the year the brewery was founded. Located on Main Street, a gorgeous riverfront ambiance and high-value, classic meals make the Frankenmuth Brewing Company a special lunch or dinner destination.
