Local business moves to a new location; makes space available for other business opportunities
The beautifully restored “Old Black Sheep Tavern” bar will be a unique centerpiece of Merrill Guerra’s newly enlarged shop, Dragonfly and Birch, opening February 7 at 115 E Main.
by Colleen A. Schoenfeld
Local business owner Merrill Guerra, owner and purveyor of Dragonfly and Birch, is relocating Dragonfly and Birch from 109 E Main St to 115 E Main St, the former location of Sweet Leilani’s Desserts, Black Sheep Tavern, and other past businesses. Dragonfly and Birch’s grand re-opening will take place this Wednesday. Come and check it out!
“Dragonfly and Birch is honored and excited to be opening our new location on Wednesday, February 7,” Guerra said, adding, “We will continue to be a gift shop featuring Michigan artists with a focus on nature, diversity, and fun. We continue to attract and find new artists to feature and support in-store. We will expand our offerings to include more books and tea blends created and mixed in-house.”
Guerra, a hard-working member of our community, has been building and coordinating a business group to improve the downtown area and attract more visitors and business to Manchester. She is an active volunteer, working with the Manchester Area Historical Society and Manchester Area Garden Club, and is an active participant in local Downtown Development Authority meetings and activities. Her appreciation for Manchester history led her to reach out to local realtor and historic restoration expert Jaimie Schmidt to preserve the original bar from the Black Sheep Tavern at the new location.
Schmidt lovingly restored the bar and making it easy to once again appreciate it as an example of beautiful woodworking and craftsmanship. Guerra plans to use the bar to serve custom blended tea, wine, zero-proof drinks, and other fun things in the near future once licensing has been cleared. She also plans to host special events, live music, and other happenings.
The location at 115 E Main St has a long history in Manchester. In 1873, William Kirchgessner, the village’s first baker, and Conrad Lehn built a brick business block at 115–117 E Main St. Both the Kirchgessner and Lehn families lived above their stores in this building.
The Black Sheep Tavern was established at 115–117 E Main St sometime in the ’70s. On September 29, 1991, a fire badly damaged the back of the building. According to manager Chris Hoover, the Plumbers and Pipefitters were in the area for their annual meeting and they all ordered steak dinners. The grease fires from the steaks overwhelmed the exhaust system. The Black Sheep Tavern closed in 2013 and the space was used for several businesses after its closing, including the Two Black Sheep.
The space at 109 E Main St between the Post Office and Tres Beau Salon will become both offices for Schmidt and Red Barn Realty, as well as a flexible venue space suitable for classes, meetings, and events.
As part of their expansion, Guerra is in the process of scheduling classes utilizing the kitchen in the back as well as the newly configured flex space where the store used to sit. The classes currently in the works include a Window Reglazing Class, various fun chocolate classes, meal planning, cooking, canning, mindfulness, tarot, equity and inclusion education, and more.
Pop-up shops and vendor space are also available! Reach out to Guerra at Dragonfly and Birch via the website, www.dragonflyandbirch.com, or via their socials on Facebook and Instagram @dragonflyandbirch if you have a class you would like to offer or an event you’d like to schedule. Once the move has been completed and both spaces are set up, they’ll be posting pictures and information on renting the space.
A prior incarnation of today’s familiar “Black Sheep” bar, estimated to be from 1906.
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