“We need new energy on the Nautical Mile,” said owner Mike LeFevre. “For my place, I have a number of plans starting with the expansion. I want to make it a ‘wow’ factor for people coming in.” LeFevre, a longtime restaurant figure in St. Clair Shores, opened the informal lakeside Mike’s on the Water five years ago. Since then, the seasonal eatery has grown in popularity, with a 30-menu item nearly doubling in size, offering seafood, burgers, sandwiches, ribs, steaks and salads.

He will convert an old canvas and awning shop next door into a new banquet room for private parties that will also include a putt-putt golf feature that will be ideal for families and date nights. “I love putt-putt golf and thought it would be great to have something to do after dinner or lunch,” LeFevre said. “I’ve got more ideas, too. I’d like to add a rooftop deck and some other things to add excitement to the area.” LeFevre hopes to start work on the expansion immediately and finish next spring. The indoor golf facility, which won’t open until 2017, will have a nautical theme with a lighthouse and ship wheel.

Meanwhile, Dimitrious Papas -- who converted the former Tom’s Oyster Bar into a Pegasus Taverna featuring Greek dishes in 2010 -- also has plans to expand.  The north end of the restaurant will be expanded along with the addition of a 30-seat outdoor patio that will be surrounded by a decorative black aluminum fence with brick columns. The project is expected to be complete by October. Donna Flaherty, president of the Nautical Mile Merchants Association, said she moved her Gifts Afloat store out of its former location next to Pegasus five years ago and relocated south on Jefferson. Pegasus purchased the vacant property about four years ago, she said.

“I think we’re going to see some big changes coming now with the economy improving,” Flaherty said. “The Pegasus project is wonderful because that’s really the entrance to the Nautical Mile, so it’s going to be the first thing people see as they enter the area.” Both projects were approved earlier this week by the St. Clair Shores City Council. The council also gave the green light to Detroit Coney Island on Jefferson north of 10 Mile for an 830-square-foot outdoor seating area. Flaherty said the enhancements may be just the first wave of a new round of investment in the Nautical Mile. She said potential investors have been looking at other sites on Jefferson, including Achatz Burgers, which closed this past spring. “There’s nothing definite yet, but I expect we will see a couple more restaurants by next year,” she said.