Hot Tubs, Saunas and Fireplaces for Empire, MI Homes
If you own a home near Empire Bluffs and South Bar Lake, Phillips Lifestyles can help you enjoy it more. The company provides hot tubs, saunas, swim spas, fireplaces, fireplace inserts and pellet stoves to Empire, Michigan and the surrounding Leelanau County area, and it installs and services what it sells. Phillips Lifestyles has served Northern Michigan since 1980 from two showrooms near Traverse City. Empire is about 22 miles west of Traverse City on M-72.
Empire at a Glance
Empire was founded in 1851 and takes its name from the schooner Empire, which was icebound offshore during a storm in 1865. The Empire Lumber Company was the main employer from 1887 to 1917. Today the village is headquarters for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, with the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center in town.
Empire Bluffs, the Robert H. Manning Memorial Light and South Bar Lake are local landmarks. The calendar includes Winterfest in February, the Asparagus Festival in May and a Hops Festival in October. M-72 begins here and runs straight to Traverse City.
Living here means living with real seasons. Summer evenings stretch late, autumn is brief and brilliant, and winter brings months of snow. The best homes are ready for every one of them.
Empire has a real year-round community as well as summer homes. Houses in the village sit close together, while those on the bluffs and around the lakes have room to spread out.
Choosing a Hot Tub in Empire
A hot tub gives a home in town its own private retreat, a few steps from the back door. At Phillips Lifestyles you can compare several leading brands side by side, including Hot Spring, Caldera Spas, Jacuzzi, Nordic, Sundance and Marquis. See them on the hot tubs page. The Caldera Palatino and the Hot Spring Aria are two mid-size models worth a look.
The best way to decide is to get in one. A free test soak at either showroom lets you try a spa before you buy. After that, the free in-home consultation brings a Phillips Lifestyles consultant to your property to measure, plan the delivery path, check clearance for the cover lifter and talk through steps and surrounds. The company uses approved electrical contractors and includes startup and fill.
If fitness is the goal, ask about Endless Pools swim spas, which let you swim in place year-round.
Fireplaces, Inserts and Pellet Stoves
Older village homes often have a fireplace that is more decoration than heat, and that is easy to fix. Phillips Lifestyles sells and installs gas, wood, pellet and electric models from Heat & Glo, Quadra-Fire, Napoleon, Enviro and Mendota. The fireplaces and inserts page shows the range, including gas fireplaces such as the Novus nXt.
A fireplace insert slides into an existing masonry fireplace and turns it into an efficient heater. The Quadra-Fire Castile pellet insert is rated at 30,600 BTUs and heats 700 to 1,800 square feet. Freestanding pellet stoves give the same steady, thermostat-controlled heat without an existing fireplace.
Phillips Lifestyles has its own installers. Rob Horton leads the fireplace crew, working with Randy Johnson, Jason Jones and Ron Magee. For background, read the blog guide on how to choose a fireplace insert.
Add a Sauna
More homeowners are adding a sauna alongside, or instead of, a hot tub. Phillips Lifestyles sells Finnleo and Tylo saunas for indoor and outdoor use, with both traditional and infrared heat. The Finnleo Patio Series can be placed on a deck or pad. Custom work is available through the Traverse City Sauna Company, where craftsmen Don Ruff and Chris Champt build saunas to order.
From First Visit to First Use
Here is how a typical purchase goes. Start at a showroom, where you can see spas filled and fireplaces burning. If a hot tub interests you, book a test soak and a free in-home consultation; the team responds to online requests within 24 hours. When your order arrives, Phillips Lifestyles delivers it, has approved electrical contractors connect it, and fills and starts it for you. Hearth products follow a similar route, with a site check for venting and clearances before the in-house crew installs the unit.
On an in-town lot, measure gates and side yards before you shop, because delivery access often decides which models are possible. Check local setback and electrical permit requirements, and consider privacy screening from neighboring windows.
Beyond Spas and Fireplaces
Phillips Lifestyles rounds out its range with billiard and game tables from Brunswick and Olhausen, premium grills and massage chairs. Spa owners will also find filters, covers and water care under hot tub accessories.
Who You Will Work With
Phillips Lifestyles is family-owned and has been part of Northern Michigan since 1980. Dennis and Debbie Riedel own the company, having relocated with their children to carry it forward, and general manager Ryan Gubbins runs daily operations.
The sales team includes Tony Fifarek, who is also the head mechanical consultant, Cherryland store manager Tyler Hanna, Kenny Smith and Wesley Bonesteel. Warehouse manager Glen Wirth and the delivery crew get products to your door, and service manager Jim Eddy oversees the technicians who maintain them. Meet everyone on the About Us page.
Installation, Maintenance and Repair
Good products last longer with regular care. Phillips Lifestyles provides all three with its own staff. See the services page for details.
Spa owners can enroll in the Spa Maintenance Program for scheduled visits every week, two weeks or four weeks. Technicians balance the water, clean the spa and cover, remove debris and change filters. When a spa or fireplace needs attention between visits, an online service request reaches the service team directly.
Frequently Asked Questions from Empire Homeowners
How far is Phillips Lifestyles from Empire?
Empire is about 22 miles west of Traverse City on M-72. Both Phillips Lifestyles showrooms are on the south side of the Traverse City area, and the team serves Leelanau County for delivery, installation and service.
What does the free in-home consultation include?
A Phillips Lifestyles team member visits your home to choose a location, measure for the right spa size, confirm clearance for the cover and lifter, review delivery options and discuss steps, surrounds and colors. There is no charge.
What hot tub brands does Phillips Lifestyles carry?
Phillips Lifestyles carries Hot Spring, Caldera Spas, Jacuzzi, Nordic, Sundance and Marquis hot tubs, along with Endless Pools swim spas. Models can be seen at the Traverse City and Grawn showrooms.
Can I use a hot tub all winter in Northern Michigan?
Yes. Modern hot tubs are insulated for year-round use, and many owners use them most in winter. A fitted cover, a cover lifter and a clear path through the snow make cold-weather soaking easy.
Get in Touch
Phillips Lifestyles is ready to help you get more from your home in Empire. Reach the Chums Corner showroom at (231) 888-0721 and the Cherryland showroom at (231) 412-1884, or use the online contact form. Questions about a particular model can go through the product inquiry page.