Stands Its Ground

Bardons Wonder Freeze Photo courtesy of: J. Kratky

Some say that the seasonal opening of Bardon’s Wonder Freeze is the only real indication of summer in Traverse City. Located on East Front Street, this iconic ice-cream shop expresses a 70’s vibe and dishes up some of Traverse City’s most scrumptious ice-cream confections. Bardon’s was established back in the 1950s and has sold ice-cream in Traverse City for almost seven decades. “Bardon’s officially opened for business back in the 50’s, so this is almost our 70th year,” proclaims current owner Jim Kratky. Kratky is a Traverse City Central High School alumnus, class of ‘79. His parents purchased Bardon’s back in 1967 and he bought the business in 2006. “We’ve modified and added onto our menu selection over the years. Back in the earlier days we brought on the flurries, which we still serve. We used to only have four flavors of hand-dipped ice-cream but we’ve recently expanded to eight flavors.” Bardon’s Wonder Freeze is a beloved favorite amongst locals and tourists alike. “When we’re in the area we always make a stop at Bardon’s Wonder Freeze. I went there as a kid and it’s fun to see it still there after all these years. Sundaes are great and it’s fun to be part of Traverse City history.” Similar customer reviews posted through Tripadvisor indicate that Bardon’s is a popular destination. While a majority of remarks submitted about Bardon’s are positive, a prominent complaint emerges; parking is restricted and customer access is limited. This is largely due to the construction of Bardon’s new neighbor, Rite Aid. Michael Niedzielski of Northporte Development, LLC is the project’s developer. Back in 2017, Niedzelski applied to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on behalf of Northporte Development requesting relief from zoning laws. Given the location of Bardon’s and Rite Aid, zoning laws specific to that area demand that a new driveway not be any closer than 100 feet from an existing driveway. Neidzielski proposed that the reconstructed driveway be approximately 72 feet from Bardon’s driveway, and roughly 76 feet from the existing driveway to the south. by: ADDISON SWANSON staff writer

This application was originally brought before the ZBA in the spring of 2017; however, Neidzielski withdrew the request and began working with Kratky, Bardon’s owner, in order to attain a mutually beneficial compromise. According to public records, “The applicant and the neighbor to the north (Bardon’s) worked together to move the drive to the north, have a shared drive, provide access to Bardon’s, and close a curb cut at Bardon’s.” Officials for Rite Aid did not respond to BGQ inquiries. Neidzielski addressed concerns in Northporte Development’s application to the ZBA, claiming, “The character of the street and neighborhood will not be diminished or negatively impacted.” Despite the initial concern associated with Rite Aid’s proximity to Bardon’s, Kratky confirmed, “So far I have been able to keep a good relationship with my new neighbors. We’re looking at getting the back parking lot reconnected to the new development. I’m pretty sure that’s going to happen, and it would make getting out of my [Bardon’s] parking lot much easier.” Realistically, minimal parking is a hindrance. It becomes more difficult for customers to access Bardon’s, which is an impediment that some are potentially not willing to overcome. Given this predicament, it would be easy to assume that Bardon’s business would inevitably be harmed. However, despite the odds, Bardon’s continues to thrive. And it’s not because of the tourists who flock to Traverse City by the millions in the summertime. Kratky credits Bardon’s success to the locals’ support. “Tourist season always brings us more business, but to be honest with you, our local people just love us even though we’ve got big buildings going up next to us and everything else. I thought that [limited customers’ access] might hurt our business, but we’ve had a wonderful year. It’s because of all of our local people that don’t want to see us fail. I just have to thank them for continuing to come even if they have to park somewhere else and walk down. And that’s what they’ve been doing.” //