MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI - As the Muskegon area bids farewell to 2023 and prepares to ring in the new year, there are a handful of local restaurants that will only be a memory in 2024 after closing their doors for good this year. On the other hand, there were plenty of new restaurants that opened in 2023. Below is a list of some notable Muskegon-area restaurant openings and closings from this year. Bad Habit, the dessert spot along the lakeshore known for its gourmet milkshakes closed its doors on Oct. 15 after being open less than two years. It first opened in March 2022 at 1307 S. Beacon Blvd, specializing in shakes topped with slices of cake, cotton candy and other sweet treats. Less than a year later, the business moved to its current location on Washington Avenue to expand and offer more goodies, before eventually closing there. Related: Extreme milkshake bar, Bad Habit, permanently closes its doors The extreme milkshake bar at 215 Washington Ave. in downtown Grand Haven cited the economy was the main reason the space wasn't able to stay afloat. An iconic Italian restaurant in the Muskegon area, Teddy Spaghettis, closed to the public on April 1 after being a staple in the community since 2009. Ted Cerniglia first opened the spot at 3032 Heights Ravenna Road before his daughter, Francesca Cerniglia-Giddings took over the restaurant in 2018 to keep serving authentic Italian food from family recipes dating back nearly a century. Favorites on the menu consisted of fresh pastas, pizzas, calzones, salads and more stemming from family cookbooks passed down through generations. In a post on Facebook, Cerniglia-Giddings said the closure was partially due to struggles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While Teddy Spaghettis did close, the owners still host monthly "Teddy Nights" at Bella Maria's Event Center in Norton Shores. Rustic Roots grew into a Grand Haven favorite for those with dietary restrictions, with options like a 14-inch artisan pizza, power bowls, quesadillas, sandwiches, raw juices and more. Owner Stacey Arnold opened the business at 216 Washington Ave. in August 2019 before permanently closing in February. Arnold stated in a Jan. 30 Facebook post that several challenges made it difficult to stay open, including rising foot costs, shortage of staff and COVID-19. The same Muskegon family that brought the popular Dr. Rolf's Barbecue spot to downtown Muskegon opened a new restaurant earlier this summer. Judy Hissom and her sons Geoffrey and Andrew opened The Early Owl at 451 W. Western Ave. in July. Related: New restaurant opening in downtown Muskegon has rooftop dining, 2 full bars The new eatery features a horseshoe-shaped bar on the main floor as well as a handicap-accessible rooftop bar and dining area. It's known for "All-American" fare with southwest-inspired dishes and some bright citrus flavors. Breakfast is available well into the afternoon until 2 p.m., as well as sharable dinner staples in the evening like crab cakes, sashimi, ceviche and oysters. Garry and Kristal Boyd opened The Unicorn Tavern at 415 S. Beechtree St. in Grand Haven on Feb. 4, intending to bring a unique Belgian flair to the area. The menu consists of elevated appetizers and plates like mushroom poutine, Moroccan Stew, Scourmont Schnitzel, and much more. Related: New Belgian-inspired restaurant opens in Grand Haven Inspired by their travels around the world and the hospitality industry, the duo curated The Unicorn Tavern to "provide a fun and family-friendly dining and drinking spot in their own East End neighborhood," according to the tavern's website. But the most important inspiration for the family's new business is their daughter Mackenzie, who died suddenly in 2017. To commemorate her, the family of four hung up a large painting of Mackenzie on the entry wall. She was nicknamed their "Unicorn." CoreLife Eatery opened a new Grand Haven location at 1506 South Beacon Blvd. on Aug. 28. The restaurant chain is known for healthy and filling options, including fresh salads, grain bowls, bone broth bowls, warm rice bowls, soups and protein-packed plates. "We believe food that's good for you should also taste great," the business stated on its website. "That's why it's our mission to bring clean, healthy meals to more and more communities all across America and keep our guests coming back." Although Two Cups of Joe opened its doors in October, the new spot already has regulars stopping in for a delicious brunch spread. Owner Joe Hoerle opened Two Cups of Joe at 4557 E. Apple Ave. with the intention of it being a place where Muskegon area locals can grab quality food and drinks at a respectable price. A new special item on the menu, "The Huntsman," is already gaining traction with local foodies. For $15, it comes with a half-pound patty of elk, bison, boar, and wagyu beef topped with smoked gouda, bacon, a buttermilk fried onion tangler spice blend and a cranberry-blueberry chutney with fries on the side. In the future, the new local cafe will be debuting some on-the-go sandwiches and more fresh pastries like crème brulée and pumpkin rolls. Cadena Brothers Pizzeria opened at 3032 Heights Ravenna Road in July with mouthwatering pizza, pasta, fresh salads and more. Twin brothers Nick and David Cadena opened the small-town pizza joint alongside local entrepreneur Mario Flores, who operated Antonio's in the space before it became Teddy Spaghettis. Top sellers on the menu are the fluffy, thin-crust pizza selections and the grinders made with in-house bread and fresh ingredients. The Italian Combo Grinder comes with Italian sausage, capicola ham, salami, cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato, green pepper, mushroom and mayo. Customers can get a 16-inch for $14 or an 8-inch for $8. Todd Johnson and Brent Galant opened Lumbertown Coffee Co. on March 13, intending to bring sustainable green coffee blends to the area. Before opening up the business, the duo was known for its roasting at the Muskegon Farmers Market, Johnson said. Related: New specialty coffee roastery, cafe opens in Muskegon County The cozy location at 864 W. Broadway Ave. promotes that it "roasts on a state-of-the-art, zero-emission Bellwether Roaster" and has an extensive espresso drink menu, according to the website. One of the most popular additions to the menu has been the Cafe Miel, a latte made with local honey infused with spices and finished with a dusting of cinnamon. Other favorites on the menu include trendy drinks like the chai tea latte and cold brew. Café Tamaki is a new spot in downtown Grand Haven offering a variety of loose-leaf tea, coffee and house-made soda. Sarah Kniss and Sam Birkenkamp opened Café Tamaki, 12 Washington Ave. in downtown Grand Haven, for retail only in November 2022. The full cafe, complete with a traditional Japanese flare, had its soft opening in late summer 2023. The idea behind the café is something Kniss said she'd been toying with for close to 10 years, since living in Japan as an assistant English teacher and working in manufacturing. At the same time, Sam Birkenkamp was working on his own business, Teaology LLC. Related: Drink tea, coffee in a traditional Japanese setting at new Grand Haven café The café consists of a bright and inviting open space with dining tables and a small assortment of Kotatsu tables, a traditional piece of Japanese furniture involving a low table with a blanket draped over it and an electric heater attached beneath. While dining in, guests can order loose-leaf tea in a pot and relax while enjoying some of the in-house pastries and other savory items. Danny Zuniga opened Big Shotz Bar at 8875 Water Road in Montague on Saturday, July 29, serving up drinks. The space was formerly known as the Big Cat Daddy Walleye Bar & Grill. The bar officially opened on Sept. 1 with a small menu featuring burgers, burritos, tacos and shareables. Related: New bar offers live entertainment, yard games in Montague While there, patrons can also play duckpin bowling, cornhole, Twister and Connect Four. The new bar also features a makeshift stage that can roll in and out for live music performances and standup comedy shows. Additionally, Big Shotz is home to a separate entity operating in the same location. The Sizzle Shack is open for patrons to order and pay for their food after grabbing a drink from Zuniga at the bar. Greekshore restaurant is already making waves along the lakeshore by offering the Muskegon area authentic Greek street food at a place that's open late. Roosevelt Park native George Moulatsiotis opened the new restaurant at 1845 Lakeshore Drive on July 3, to bring a little taste of Greece to the streets of Muskegon. Some of the best sellers on the menu are the assortment of gyros, as well as the popular Saganaki, which is flaming cheese. Other favorites on the menu include the house-made flaky dessert called baklava and the fresh salads, as well as the popular Greek fast food Souvlaki ($12-14) served with small pieces of marinated meat on a skewer. Cajun Cuisine by Us took over the former Burl & Sprig space in downtown Muskegon on Sept. 15, offering a new culinary experience inspired by Creole recipes. Kaja Thornton-Hunter, who also owns The Us Cafe in Muskegon Heights, initially opened the space at 333 W. Western Ave. with a limited menu. Now, customers can expect filling meals like seafood boils, catfish gumbo and house wings made with Thornton-Hunter's own seasoning company called Kaja's Flavor Packs. Holiday hike with goats, NYE Beer Tour: 5 events in Grand Rapids this weekend (Dec. 29-31) Lakeshore Glitter Ball, dual zipline: 3 events in Muskegon this weekend (Dec. 29-31)