About Devils Lake View Living

As  a child, Darlene spent a lot of time around the water, whether it was boating on Lake Erie, camping in Northern Michigan or visiting friends and family on smaller lakes.
The Toledo native’s love of the water means she always wanted to live on a lake. When that dream came true for her and her husband 12 years ago when they moved to Devils Lake, it also put the couple on the path towards helping to be a part of the area’s recent development. Darlene Heller opened Devils Lake View Living in May of 2013, a boutique with distinctive gifts for your home and your lifestyle. Darlene went with a wide variety of items women would love to purchase for themselves or for gifts including purses, jewelry, clothing, beachwear, jewelry, chocolates, candles, pillows, lamps, lotions, baby gifts, old framed photos of the Devils Lake, American Spoon and more. Darlene is always looking for new items to go with the change of seasons.
The lighthouse building is already a landmark and will be for years to come. Devils Lake View Living will be opened year round.

One Stop Shop!

Here at Devils Lake View Living, we are a one stop shop for gifts! We make sure you are ready to give your gift right after walking out the door by wrapping all gifts in our beautiful gift bags. Just let us know it is a gift and we will wrap it all up free of charge.

Yes! We ship!

See something on our website or facebook but can’t make it out to the store? Shoot us an e-mail or give us a call and let us know! We can ship the item directly to you!

About the Development

David Gajda and his partner Jose Malagon started developing their vision for the Manitou Beach Village in 2009. David’s sister, Marie Parker, owned the Manitou Bar and Grill for approximately 30 years, but in 2019 the bar burned to the ground, so Dave decided to help his sister out by rebuilding the bar. After the beautiful New Manitou Bar and Grill was built, Marie passed on which was a very sad time for all who knew Marie. She left behind a legacy, so in August of 2017, Ben and Wendy Leonard purchase the bar and renamed it “Manitou Food & Spirits”. Today, they serve a full menu and spirits year round.               

So David and Jose owning several restaurants in clubs in Hollywood California (including Beso, they own with actress Eva Longoria), decided the area needed help in restoring some of the charm of a bygone era. They bought a pole barn and old post office on Devils Lake Highway and remodeled the building into a New England style which now houses “The Buoy on the Lake”. They then bought several other buildings and lots in the old commercial district of Manitou Beach with the long term plans of transforming the area into a New England style resort town nestled next to Devils Lake (largest inland lake in southern lower Michigan and a short distance from the major metropolitan areas of Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing and Toledo).
After buying and remodeling several cottages (build in the late 1800’s) that had fallen into disrepair in the area, David and Jose decided their vision needed an anchor landmark building. They designed and built what is currently the ‘Devils Lake View Living’ or also referred to as the “Lighthouse” building. This building continues the New England style look and feel and also moves the area closer to their vision of an artist village full of shops and bed and breakfast lodging sitting right on beautiful Devils and Round Lake.

 

The next project, “Tibbs Corner,” was completed in May of 2014 and the “Sandbar Care Coffee and Creamery” and “Foundation Realty”. In 2015 “Trends Salon & Spa”  moved into one of the restored 1800’s houses on Lakeview Dr. That same year, construction was started on the “Boathouse in the Lakeview Shops” and today, we have “Michigan Gypsy”, “Manitou Beach Boathouse Art Gallery” and “Nutrition Beach” . During that same time period, “Devils Lake Watersports” also did a major renovation on their warehouse building in the Village and this is where the “Manitou Beach Village Farmers Market” takes place from Memorial Day to Labor Day as well as the ‘Rockin the Hills” Beer Festival. Dave and Jose also purchased another old cottage on Walnut St. across from the Manitou Bar and Grill which was renovated into “The Coral House” and now houses “Twisted Sisters” which is another retailer. They also purchased Marie Parker’s former house on the corner of Walnut St. and Devils Lake Hwy., which became the beautiful “Devils Lake Inn” with 3 Michigan themed rooms.

 

In 2018, Dave and Jose sold another home on Walnut St. and in 2019, it will open as “the Manitou Beach Inn”, offering 3 additional Michigan themed rooms. Another additional to the village for 2019 is the “Manitou Beach Glass Factory”, located in the Turquoise house on Devils Lake Hwy.  They will offer fused glass art and will be open during our special events.

 

In 10 years, we have had much success with a variety of events and activities in the Village, including; “Devils Lake Festival of the Arts”, An Antique Car Shows, a Craft Beer Festival, the Nautical Flee Market, our Fall Event, Art Camp, Byways Art Tour,  Christmas in the Village and more.

 

Manitou Beach Village has also been featured in the Pure Michigan campaigns and a variety of articles throughout the Irish Hills and surrounding area. In 2018, the “Manitou Beach Visitor’s Guide” was created and will continue on over the years.   In 2016, the Brooklyn Irish Hill Chamber of Chamber of Commerce gave the Village the “Emerald Award-Gem of the Community”.

 

Stay tuned for more progress and growth as much more is in store for this jewel of the Irish Hills.