Traverse City Readies for 8,000 at Bayshore Marathon
The sold-out bayshore marathon will bring about 8,000 runners to Traverse City’s East Arm of East Grand Traverse Bay this Memorial Day weekend. The race is in its 43rd year, and local businesses are bracing for a busy stretch that reaches well beyond the finish line.
Traverse City Tourism and Bayshore
Trevor Tkach said the marathon is a huge help. He added that runners are typically in the area for the entire weekend and often explore local attractions.
“This is a huge help. It really is.” Tkach said about the marathon’s impact, and he also pointed to the ripple effect on businesses beyond the course. “It becomes a real fun community event, like something I haven’t seen anywhere else in the state. So that’s kind of special, too,” he said.
The Traverse Track Club estimates the event generates close to $2.5 million for the local economy. All three races have sold out, which gives the weekend a larger footprint than a single road race and keeps hotels, restaurants and attractions busy across the area.
Reflect Bistro Reservations
Ron Robinson said the surge is already showing up at Reflect Bistro. “One of the things about the marathon is not only is it Memorial Weekend, which is busy, but the race is such a big race that people book reservations as soon as they get accepted into the race,” he said.
Robinson said the restaurant expects 40 reservations one night and 60 the next night, along with additional walk-in customers. He said, “The biggest thing about restaurant is service. If you have great service and great food, people will come,” a sign that the weekend rush is being treated as an opportunity, not just a crowd.
For Traverse City, the practical effect is immediate: full fields at the Bayshore Marathon, early tables at Reflect Bistro, and a Memorial Day weekend that pushes more runners into local shops, wineries and attractions. The race has become one of the city’s key summer events, and this weekend’s sellout gives it one of its largest economic lifts of the year.
