BIG CHANGE AT the Landmark Inn. The hotel's restaurant, The Piedmont, will close down on March 30th for several weeks of renovations, to re-emerge by summer as The Parlour, featuring wood-fired pizzas. "We have been trying to do too much for too many people," says Matt Mering, one of the owners. "We wanted a more ... Continue Reading
La Catrina, Border Grill, and the UP 200
Signs of progress "WE'RE HOPING TO open this month." The words of Carlos Romo, one of the owners of La Catrina, the new Mexican restaurant in the WJMN Plaza in Marquette Township. We wrote about it extensively a few months ago. Romo's being a bit optimistic, perhaps, but clearly there's been progress. The exterior ... Continue Reading
A New Brewery
THE REVIVAL OF downtown Munising continues. A new brewery, the ByGeorge Brewing Company, opened its doors last Friday. "It was a soft opening," says George Schultz, the owner, and the obvious reason for the brewery's name. "We were set to open at 5 o'clock, but some people arrived at 4:10 so we just started serving ... Continue Reading
Vista Restoration, Smartzone Retirement, Grandview Vacancies, and Praise for Vango’s, Jean Kay’s, and Elizabeth’s
MARQUETTE HAS TO be envious. Its next door neighbor, Negaunee, has a classic old theater which is still in use, and now finally, it's getting some TLC. Consider this: Over the last two years, the Vista Theater and the annex, which date back to 1926, have gotten some sorely needed repairs to the roof and the back wall, ... Continue Reading
Anatomy of a Business Failure
TWENTY-EIGHT-YEAR-old Klint Miller looks you straight in the eye from across his desk at UP General Contracting in downtown Marquette. He's ready for questions. He's just shut down his business after less than four years. A locked door, employees let go, building contracts unfulfilled, debts unpaid, some of them ... Continue Reading