FEATURED BUSINESSES

STAFFORD'S PERRY HOTEL

GRANDPA SHORTERS

LITTLE TRAVERSE JEWELERS

MIDWAY MUNCHIES

THE CIRCUS SHOP

PAULINE VIALL

PAPA LOU'S

Little Traverse Jewelers...
tomorrows heirlooms today.

Mike and Linda Teska met in Grand Haven, Michigan in 1970. It was not long--only about a year--before they were married and began searching towns along the shores of Lake Michigan. Though a little unsure of exactly what they were looking for, they knew they wanted to live in a small town similar to Grand Haven near the water. They also knew they wanted to own their own business.

Ready for a challenging adventure, they looked at many businesses of many types in many small towns. Finally, they found a clothing and jewelry store in a little town called Petoskey. Mike was familiar with Petoskey, as he and his family had passed through the town during summer camping trips when he was a kid. A jewelry store made sense, since Mike would be able to learn design and repair from a then local jeweler, Jesse Tippey. Mike’s great-grandfather was a painter and Mike seemed to be the only family member to have inherited any of his creative genes, and so he took to jewelry design right away. At the same time, Linda very much enjoyed and was quite good at bead work of all kinds. So in 1979, Little Traverse Jewelers was born. And what kind of stone does a jewelry store in Petoskey, Michigan specialize in? Petoskey Stones, of course!

Since the store opened, Mike and Linda Teska have worked hard to grow Little Traverse Jewelers into a store that carries things you just have to see to believe. Naturally, you will find beautiful Petoskey stone jewelry of all kinds (over 1500 pairs of earrings, alone), but also picture frames, clocks, serving and cutlery sets, silverware, and even cabinet knobs, all featuring Petoskey stones. In addition, they have carved and polished Petoskey stone pieces to resemble Northern Michigan icons, such as morel mushrooms.

Of course, as a full service jeweler, Little Traverse Jewelers also carries necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets of more typical stones, including diamond, garnet, hematite, amethyst, and the Michigan gemstone, Chlorastrolite, a rare green mineral now found primarily on Isle Royal and up north in copper country. You also can find pieces by Jody Coyote and Holly Yashi, custom-made for Little Traverse Jewelers.

Along with Mike and Linda, their son, Mike Jr. also runs the store and does jewelry design and repair work along with his parents. Growing up in the store has taught him a lot about the business, which he is now passing down to his seven-year old daughter, Alisa. Together, the family believes in offering their customers a large variety of high quality pieces that will last a lifetime. There are countless wonderful and unique things to see, great for your home or cottage, or for a gift. You simply must stop in to Little Traverse Jewelers, where you will find tomorrow’s heirlooms today.

Little Traverse Jewelers is located at 313 E. Lake Street, or call them at 231-347-0261.