New Walled Lake Business To Feature Michigan Made Products

 

Having lived in the lakes area for years, I’ve heard plenty of stories, but I didn’t have to go fishing or to the library story time this week or the family reunion to hear great Michigan stories. I had the pleasure of hearing some of the wonderful Michigan stories from one of Walled Lake’s Waterfront’s newest business owners and storyteller Susan Voydanoff. Lately people have been migrating from all over to join the Walled Lake Waterfront business district. The pure beauty of the lake itself is worth visiting to see at sunset, and now open for business with a grand opening scheduled for March 21 at 11 a.m. with be: Below the Bridge & Above “Michigan Products.”

If you are looking for pure Michigan made products of all types chances are you will find it here at Below the Bridge & Above.  Susan Voydanoff lived in Petoskey Michigan for the past 20 years. She returned to Walled Lake to call home again. “I choose to set up my business in this area because I am originally from this area,” Voydanoff said.

Voydanoff brainstormed and came up with the type of store she wanted to open, one that gets back to basics and offers the best of what Michigan has to offer right in its own backyard. The building itself was chosen for the historical value of the original business that occupied the space in the 1930s, which was an old pharmacy and soda/ice cream shoppe. Voydanoff not only knows the history of the building and waterfront, she knows the history behind every product in her store, a one of a kind, shop and learn store. She has read every book in the store and can share stories about every product, should you ask. Give her a chance and you will be entertained with stories and knowledge while shopping, making it a shoppers delight.

This retail store has a wide variety of items that include: gourmet foods; Michigan authors and artists; photography; drawings; sculptures and hand blown glass from East Jordan Glass Works cruets; and friendship bulbs. There is a full line of products by American Spoon Foods: Chocolate Milk Carmel, Rocky Tops-Cherry Butter, Cherry Republic, candles, syrups, and goat milk products. Some upcoming items to be featured are: Stormy Kromers Hats, Copper Jewelry from Copper Harbor in the Marquette area, soy candles from Mid Michigan, South Haven’s famous blueberry scone mix and preserves will also be featured in the coming months.

“Our products are personal too, I’ve even milked the goats at Good Girl Goats Soap in Horton Bay, Michigan. The goat’s milk is a great moisturizer; each soap is named after one of the goats,”Voydanoff said. “Below the Bridge & Above is for people of all ages, men and women. Men love our cherry butter and salsa’s.”

Voydanoff says she is looking forward to working with the DDA and Chamber and reinventing Walled Lake and giving it a” jump start.” Susan also supports the Pure Michigan Campaign. “We need to stay local and work with what we have, look and explore all the possibilities of Pure Michigan,” Voyandoff said.

Birthdays, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Easter right around the corner, Below the Bridge and above may be the place to visit with items priced from $5.95- $69.00. Below the Bridge & Above: Michigan Products is located at: 123 East Walled Lake Dr. Walled Lake, Michigan 48390 telephone: (248) 960-8922