wicked GOOD EATS Off the Beaten Track! Foodie Gems you need to discover.
Have you kissed the moose for good luck?
Smooch the
MOOSE Sleder’s Family Tavern
717 Randolph Street, Traverse City www.Sleders.com
28
SPRING 2019 | BAYLIFE MAGAZINE
If you have ever visited Sleder’s Family Tavern it’s a sure bet that you have seen, and possibly kissed, Randolph the Moose. Randolph is one of the more impressive hunting trophies that hangs on Sleder’s legendary walls and sets the mood for the nostalgic tavern. The family-friendly Slabtown gathering place has been catering to Traverse City locals and out of town visitors alike for over 100 years. Founded by Bohemian immigrant Vencil M. Sleder in 1882, Sleder’s is a local historical site and the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Michigan. Three generations of Sleders originally owned the saloon, and in 1975, the Classens family bought it and added on the beautiful, Victorian-style porch, which today is a popular venue for concerts, banquets, and special occasions. Brian and Deb Cairns held their own wedding on the porch upon their purchase of the restaurant in 1992. The Cairns have been committed to preserving Sleder’s historical building, its 12-foot tin ceiling, 21foot mahogany bar, original booths and tables, iron parlor chairs and stools, and its most notable characteristic: the slab siding that echoes Traverse City’s sawmill past. Today, Sleder’s bar is fully stocked with local, national, and international brews, wines, and spirits. The restaurant, best known for its locally sourced burgers, offers friendly family-style dining, takeout, and catering.