A Dandy Place for Breakfast, Brunch, and Lunch

Combining the best of Green House and Red Spire

By Geri Dietze | Feb. 14, 2026

Sometimes things were just meant to be. Take, for example, The Dandy, Front Street’s new brunch hub, which filled the space left empty by the departed—and much loved—Green House Café, which closed in 2024, after 24 years in business. The Dandy partners, Chad Hall and Joshua Anderson, both spent years earning their chops in the Green House kitchen.

But long before The Dandy, the pair formed the idea of doing something together. “It was a good [time] to look for opportunities on our own,” Hall explains. “We knew brunch was a much-needed [offering] in Traverse City.” In 2016, they established the popular Red Spire Brunch House in the Mercato at the Grand Traverse Commons, serving classic dishes in a warm, contemporary setting.

When 115 East Front St. came on the market, Hall and Anderson were just looking for an investment, but the significance of the moment was not lost on them.

“It was very serendipitous, [that the building] was available and affordable,” Hall says. Eventually, the idea for The Dandy took shape. “One [restaurant] seems to be working, so let’s try two.”

Hall and Anderson credit the community for helping them get started. “We had lots of support from other restaurants,” Hall explains, “and we were so fortunate to have an experienced staff right away.”

An Architectural Gem

By definition, a dandy is a person of good taste, and in Hall’s words, “We are a place of good tastes.” That extends to the ambiance of the restaurant.

Now, after an 18-month reno, The Dandy is the go-to for upscale-casual breakfast, brunch, and lunch fare, finely prepared with knowing service. (Hall estimates that on a weekend, The Dandy is seeing over 200 guests per day.)

The Dandy is ensconced in a 1907 building that miraculously avoided any façade “improvements” or renovations over the century-plus of its existence.

Inside, the décor carries the theme of the curving front window in fresh and updated ways. “We wanted to play off of the Art Deco [design],” explains Hall. “It’s a bit of a mix of old and new,” with neutral colors, warm woods, rich upholstery, and mural designs. The 2,400-square-foot main floor offers seating for 70 at tables fronting expansive banquettes, cozy booths, assorted high-tops, and at the bar.

Let’s Eat

Upon returning to the building that gave them their start, the duo reached into the traditions and recipes of both Green House and Red Spire.

“We knew a lot of people adored the Green House, and we kept some things from Red Spire that transferred easily,” says Hall.

Look for both the time-honored and the new. If it’s two eggs, bacon, and toast you’re after, The Dandy has it, plus all of the breakfast favorites. We like the sound of The Bash—hashbrowns, gruyere, ham, and onions grilled together, then topped with a choice of eggs and toast—or the Burrito with house-made chorizo.

Quiche Lorraine beautifully combines bacon, gruyere, and caramelized onions, and French short crust pastry pâte brisée. (At The Dandy, the quiche looks the way it is meant to look, and it is known to sell out.) “The quiche is a big hit,” Hall adds.

Choose from the popular selection of Benedicts—traditional, Crab Cakes (the real thing) or Smoked Salmon versions; and omelets—chorizo sausage with chihuahua cheese, and salsa; the Andouille sausage, with spinach, gruyère, and avocado; or the Western, among others. Or try the challah bread French Toast with Bavarian cream, raspberry Romanoff, and toasted almonds, because sometimes breakfast should be as pretty as dessert.

On the lunch side, to honor the Green House Café, try the popular soup and sandwich combos, including the Green House Egg BLT and Chicken Noodle soup. There are salads and sandwiches, baked goods, and sides, from house made pecan or cinnamon rolls to hashbrowns cooked just how you like them.

Vegans and vegetarians will find plenty of options. Plus, there is a full bar in addition to the expected brunch libations, such as freshly roasted coffee, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and mimosas. Sourcing is done locally whenever possible, including Higher Grounds, 9 Bean Rows, and Third Coast Bakery, or “whatever catches our eye,” Hall says.

Up Next

Accommodating private evening events is still in the planning stages, but the partners are taking their time. “That’s a new venture for us,” Hall says. “We’re getting input from [people] with more experience” as “downtown is a different animal,” he adds.

Still, there have been a few after-parties for the City Opera House. When events are in full swing, Hall anticipates accommodating 30 to 70 attendees for future bookings. Catering is another possibility for the future.

Are there any plans to expand beyond The Dandy and Red Spire? “Two is enough for us at the moment,” Hall says. 

Find The Dandy at 115 East Front St. in Traverse City. (231) 709-4167; dandytc.com