The Oakwood Proper Burger
Tastemaker
By Alex Tank | Feb. 20, 2021
The aptly named Oakwood Proper Burgers seems to do it all right. This newly opened hot spot at the corner of Traverse City’s Eighth Street and Garfield serves up smash burgers, hand-cut fries, and classic milkshakes, with a sizeable splash of midcentury style on the side.
Leslie Bilbey and Josh Gray thoughtfully revitalized the former Ham Bonz space to bring area carnivores local ingredients with modern consciousness: fresh-ground Michigan Craft Beef™ burgers on Old Mission Bakery buns, a commitment to no single-use plastic, and mind-blowing Michigan-made Velvet Peanut Butter mixed with Moomer’s ice cream and milk in the vintage Ray Kroc Multimixer. A welcome taste of nostalgia and, well … a lot of tastes you’ll welcome.
To start, try the Proper burger (above; photo courtesy John Russell) topped with lettuce, tomato, pickle, grilled onions, American cheese, and Proper sauce. Just be aware: Burgers here go fast, so make proper plans. Preview the menu on Facebook. Find Oakwood Proper Burgers at 1108 E. Eighth St. (231) 253-1513.
Trending
Wildwood Harbor Nature Area Expands
Earlier this month, the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy announced that they purchased an additional 30 acres of lan… Read More >>
Pickle Fest 2026
Sure, you know about the Cherry Festival in Traverse City, the Asparagus Festival in Empire, and the Apple Festival in Charl… Read More >>
Triple the Art in Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor, and Petoskey
Three days, three art shows! First, head to Harbor Springs for the Nub’s Nob Art Fair on Wednesday, July 22, from 9am-… Read More >>