$15,000 Worth of Apples Vanish From Spicer Orchards

Thieves strike southeast Michigan apple orchard

Apple season is in full swing with the smell of cider doughnuts wafting through the air, but one local orchard is reeling from a recent theft. Popular apple growers Spicer Orchards in Fenton tells WDIV that 7,000 pounds of apples vanished from a 5-acre section of its Linden-based orchard sometime between October 6 and October 10. The roughly 22,000 stolen apples are valued at about $14,400. The apple orchard doesn’t carry insurance for this type of theft. The situation rings eerily similar to another recent incident where 350 pumpkins were stolen from McCallum’s Orchard and Cider Mill in St. Clair County on October 7 and the theft of 50,000 apples from an orchard in Indiana.

Jolly Pumpkin owners switch gears with “West Coast”-style restaurant in Dearborn

A new restaurant called the Longboard from the owners of North Peak and Jolly Pumpkin is scheduled to open this fall at the Wagner Place development in downtown Dearborn. The restaurant is designed to channel coastal surf culture with tiki drinks and “Pacific-inspired dishes.” Eater reached out for more details about the size of the restaurant and specific menu items. A rep for the restaurant, say those specifics are still being worked out.

See your own reflection in your mug

A new cafe with bubble waffles and bubble tea debuted in Ann Arbor this week. The shop called BeanBerry Cafe is located at 305 S. Main St. and features “selfieccinos” where customers can print their own visage on some foam. The techno latte art gimmick has been going on for a while now. A shop in Birmingham opened in 2017 with a similar format.

Casino adds a new sports bar

Moneyline Sports Lounge is now pouring drinks near the hotel valet entrance at the MGM Grand Detroit casino, per a release. The venue features bar top video poker, a full bar with a cocktails and local beer, lounge seating, and three VIP areas.

Controversy stirring burger franchise opens latest location in Oak Park

Burgerim has opened a new outpost in Oak Park. The burger franchise was originally founded in Israel and has drawn criticism from groups supporting the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement supporting Palestinians. Burgerim relaunched in 2016 and now manages its U.S. franchises from California. The metro Detroit locations are operated by a Lebanese American owner. Nevertheless, Burgerim has faced protests in southeast Michigan, forcing the restaurant owner to suspend plans for a Dearborn restaurant. He’s still paying on the lease, according to the latest report.

Birmingham restaurants receive approval

The Birmingham City Commission has approved plans for three restaurants — a pub called Sidecar, an American restaurant called Shift, and a pizzeria called Slice — in the former Mitchell’s Fish Market space. The owner says he plans to close his other restaurant, Rojo Mexican Bistro, when the lease ends. Sidecar will relocate from its current space when the lease ends.

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