AS SOME OF OUR SPRING flowers begin to show their faces, possibly prematurely, we can take a look at some area projects which are also trying to blossom. Some are closer to seeing the sun than others, but as long as there’s a breath of life, they’ll remain on our radar.
Here’s a little rundown of a few things we’ve been keeping an eye on, categorized by where they’re at in the process.
All evaluations are subjective, based largely on what I know, and loosely on what I presume. Actual results may vary.
HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK
VISTA THEATER
Area thespians and theater-goers must certainly be heartened with the positive developments at Negaunee’s Vista Theater. If you recall, the state stepped up and earmarked the theater’s restoration project when it doled out a bunch of money last year. To get the cash, the historic downtown landmark couldn’t be privately owned, so even though the city didn’t break it, they bought it. And now they’re fixing it.
The first phase is underway with the replacement of the roof, which, when it caved in almost four years ago, wrecked the popular performance venue by turning it into an open-air theater. Once the roof is in place, the rest of the renovations can be prioritized and work can begin in restoring the theater to its former standing.
Peninsula Arts Appreciation Council president Rusty Bowers says they’ve submitted their ideas for the restoration to the city, but acknowledges the new owners will have the final say. PAAC’s hope is that the Vista is ready for business by the fall of 2026, in time for the theater’s 100th anniversary.
MATHER INN
Just like the Vista, here’s another project happening up the road that’s all about saving history… and building on it. Though it’s mostly apartments now and no longer a hotel, it still offers hotel amenities to downtown Ishpeming. Like a cozy new bar off the lobby, banquet and meeting rooms, and soon, a totally renovated tap room downstairs.
New owners took over the Mather a couple years ago after a significant period of neglect and mismanagement. It looks like they’ve steadied the ship. There was a time when it looked like the Mather was down for the count, but with competent ownership, it could once again become a great complement to a resurgent downtown.
Like Negaunee, Ishpeming has a few business leaders who are investing in downtown, which means they’re going in the right direction. With apologies to Old Ish, a little New Ish works too.
ORE DOCK BREWING COMPANY
Anyone passing through the 200 block of South Front over the past year or so couldn’t have helped but notice the progress of the expansion at the Ore Dock Brewing Company.
Details have been hard to come by, but plans are to have the construction completed by late summer. I’m not sure what the final product is going to look like, but I’m sure it’s happening. I believe new outdoor space is part of the addition, which will only help to bring more people downtown.
ON A FRONT BURNER
DIGS MARQUETTE
A recent Facebook post from DIGS of downtown Marquette suggests the dormant DIGS City Beach, their cozy outdoor bar and music venue, is on track to reopen this summer.
Sources tell me they hope to be ready for the 4th of July, but I was told a similar thing last year too. However, with their FB announcement, it looks like it’s going to happen. The shutdown of the beach was due to regulations calling for a more permanent bathroom sitch. A lot of rules were relaxed during the pandemic, but when the pendulum swung back, many of those same rules were reinstated.
Apparently funding has been secured and plans are in place to ditch the porta-potties in favor of real toilets …so the drinks can flow again, hopefully by the 4th.
ON A BACK BURNER
HONORABLE DISTILLERY
It looks like downtown Marquette’s Honorable Distillery isn’t done distilling its tasting room. In case you never noticed, there’s room to grow… up. The former theater’s balcony is being turned into the distillery’s second floor. It’s not quite ready yet for public consumption, but sometime, hopefully in the near future, the space will be available for additional seating as well as events and special occasions.
STILL ON THE DRAWING BOARD
THE ORE DOCK
Not the Ore Dock Brewing Company… the actual Ore Dock. We’ve been covering this story for a few years now as the group called “Friends of Ore Dock BotEco Center” continues to formulate plans and raise money to turn the venerable landmark into something the community can use, rather than just admire.
Hurdles facing the group are aplenty, including, but not limited to… money, governmental approvals, and public acceptance. Downtown’s Trenary Toast Bakery and Café recently held a bake sale to go along with other fundraising efforts the “Friends” continue to employ.
I don’t mean to be a Dougie Downer here, but it’s going to take a lot more than the revenue from well-meaning bake sales to replace the Ore Dock’s weeds with a year-round botanical garden featuring an ecological education facility.
I did hear of a plan to construct a public walkway around the dock itself. That might be doable and would be a good first step towards their vision of an all-encompassing facility. Regardless, like the ore dock itself, it’s a heavy lift.
STILL ON A BAR NAPKIN
UPFRONT AND COMPANY
Looking for good news on the Upfront front? Word on the street is things are happening there, but until I walk through the door and I’m served a cold beverage, I’m not going to believe it. Too bad. It was once one of the coolest places in Marquette. The same owner is still holding the keys, but apparently they’re deep in his pocket.
As I suggested in a post back in 2022, just stock the bar and open the damn place. We don’t agree on much anymore, but 9 out of 10 people I didn’t talk to would like to go to Upfront one more time before they die. The clock is ticking.
LOOKING FOR LOVE
BUTLER THEATER
Finally… the Butler Theater, as seen above. Unlike the aforementioned Vista Theater, Ishpeming’s Butler Theater isn’t in line to receive any of that state money. Three million would have gone a long way towards bringing the Butler back to life. But however they get it, if they get it, it’s going to take a lot of money to revitalize the long dormant movie house.
Who are ‘they’ you ask? Well, there’s a grassroots group of folks called the “Butler Restoration Committee” trying to keep the dream alive, and there’s Annie Trudell, a one-woman community activist trying to keep the lights on… literally.
Unfortunately, the Butler is currently existing under the unwatchful eye of an absentee and seemingly uninterested owner. Without the efforts of self-appointed caretaker Annie, as well as other interested parties, the place would have a much more questionable future than it has now. And it’s pretty darn questionable now.
Here’s the deal. Though the building has suffered some damage due to neglect, the bones seem to be good, and the layout lends itself to a performance and event venue with a ton of potential. To be sure, it would take A LOT OF WORK and A LOT OF MONEY, but done right, it could serve as a great downtown anchor.
Currently, the entire theater, front to back, is filled with stuff, highlighted by thousands of books. Annie sells the stuff out of the lobby, just to keep a balance in the checkbook and to cover limited operational expenses.
The building’s exterior is beautiful and has held up to the ages very well. The marquee belongs in a dumpster, but a marquee… that one fixed up or a new one altogether, has to be a priority. I think the Delft got some financial assistance to fix theirs, so there’s that.
I know there are other projects around the county in the works. In fact, there are so many, it’s hard to cover them all. And I think that’s a good thing.
Other than that… beware the Ides of March.