About Us
Located approximately 15 miles north of Traverse City, in the pinky finger of the Michigan “mitt”, lies the small village of Suttons Bay. Embraced by the Great Lake Michigan, Suttons Bay draws water-lovers, fans of nature, golfers, wine connoisseurs, and many who just "want to get away from it all." The Leelanau Peninsula is also a magnet for shopping enthusiasts.
Lima Bean is a women’s boutique geared toward those who love to shop. We carry clothing for the woman who celebrates her individual style whether she is 16 or 96 years old. Lima Bean offers quality apparel to flatter every figure – here you will find sizes ranging from small to 3X. Inside our doors
look for well-known lines such as Flax, Willow, Cheyenne, XCVI, Free People, Hazel,
Winter Sun, Angie, Skif, Neesh, Nick & Mo, Young Essence, Whitewash, A People United, Animale, LA Fixsun and 213... the list goes on and on!
Not only can we dress you up, we’ll also adorn your feet with fun footwear! Our newly expanded shoe selection includes Naot,
Madeline, Nicole, Bernie Mev, Matisse, Bos & Co. and
Medici! Eclectic jewelry, fun gift items, bath accessories and greeting cards also fill the 900 square foot store.
Our storefront is located at 222 Saint Joseph Avenue, on the main block downtown. Five stores north of the Bay Theatre on your right hand side, look for our eye-catching window display. The Lima Bean staff enjoys filling the front window with our ever-changing inventory. Pause on the sidewalk to peek in…you may just see something you like!
Customers always ask “Why is your store named Lima Bean?” What an odd name for a women’s clothing boutique! Of course you’re curious… So here’s the story:
Lima Bean was founded by Leelanau County native Susann Craig. Before becoming a women’s wholesale clothing representative in Chicago, she owned the Limited Ltd. in Fishtown, Leland from 1963 – 1978. In 1987, one of Susann’s close friends opened a coffee shop at the Homestead in Glen Arbor and convinced Susann to get back into retail and open a boutique next door. In doing so, Susann was able to carry the clothing and accessories in her store that she represented in her Chicago showroom, therefore touching the market on both ends. The two decided to name the store after a rather large turtle that Susann had given to her friend. Hence, Lima Bean came into existence. Lima, the turtle, had been named after a dog in a favorite camp song, which ended “Where oh where has Lima Been? Susann moved Lima Bean to Suttons Bay in 1993 and it has been a destination for residence and visitors ever since. Lima the turtle left quite a legacy behind! Little could he have known that women would still be talking about him years later.
In 2003 Lima Bean was purchased by Rachel and Jeremy Peplinski. Rachel had been employed at the Lima Bean since her graduation from Suttons Bay high school in 1999. She was initially hired by Susann to manage Lima Bean Too, the Fishtown store on the river that had once been Limited Ltd. After years of working between the two locations the decision was made by Susann to close the Leland ‘bean’ and Rachel eventually became the manager of Lima Bean. When Susann Craig decided to sell the business in 2003 Rachel wholeheartedly took over operations of the store that had become her passion. Today Rachel strives to keep Lima Bean a treasure for loyal patrons and new customer alike.
The staff inside our doors looks forward to making your shopping experience a pleasant and comfortable one. Trained to help you match this and compliment that, our girls are ready to help you complete your perfect look. Lima Bean’s manager, Wendy MacNaughton has been a fixture in the store since 1999. Known for her sweet voice and endless sense of humor, she is the mind behind most of our beautiful window and in-store displays. Wendy also assists in the buying for Lima Bean and is a priceless resource when it comes to collaborating an outfit. Whether you are searching for that perfect gift for a friend or are adding to your own wardrobe, you will find it at Lima Bean.