LISTEN CAREFULLY. YOU hear the music? They’re playing musical chairs downtown.
Reblossom, which specializes in upscale but gently used women’s clothing, is leaving its current address on January 24th and moving a few blocks east to 104 West Washington (the former Moonstone Gallery location).
This will be the third move for Reblossom since it first opened almost seven years ago. The new site will be more compact with a much smaller window display but it will be right in the heart of downtown.
Sale! Sale!! Sale!!! To lighten the load of the movers, Reblossom will be conducting 60-70% off sales up until the 24th.
They hope to be set up in their new digs by February 7th.
OVER ON FRONT Street, it’s the same tune but different lyrics.
Remember Switchback, the used athletic and outdoor equipment store that closed up shop several weeks back?
Well, one of Switchback’s employees, Nick Simon, said “What the hell? I’m stickin’ around.” He decided to stay at the same location where he’s now opened up his own shop, Superior Outfitters.
It’s similar to Switchback, with new, used and consignment gear, but the new store dispenses with bikes (too many of them already in town) and focuses more on fishing equipment and attire. And minnows!
Also skis and snowboards. The shelves are still lightly stocked but Simon, who’s also a fishing guide, is building up his inventory.
MEANTIME, OVER ON Baraga Street, it looks as though the Great Turtle Toy Store, which operated a pop-up store for a month during the Christmas season, will be moving next door to the bottom floor of the Children’s Museum.
It’ll replace Sprouts which has never been particularly successful.
Store owner Ben Nye is full of energy and ideas. Museum director Nheena Ittner thinks the store will be a good fit with the museum.
Financial details still need to be worked out, but both sides are hoping the store will re-open at the museum by February 1st.
THE LATEST ON food trucks…
City officials, along with the Downtown Development Authority, are now working on a plan to regulate the trucks and locations where they can park downtown.
Currently the trucks can park on private property–in the parking lots of businesses, for example–but not in public parking spaces.
The truck owners would like to set up shop in heavily trafficked areas, but not surprisingly, the bricks-and-mortar restaurants aren’t thrilled with the idea. The restaurants pay substantial property taxes, the trucks don’t.
Nothing’s definite yet, but what might happen is that the city will designate certain public areas in town as open to the food trucks, and might also assess an additional licensing fee to them.
Nobody will be entirely happy with the compromise…but then, that’s the nature of compromise.
IT’S TOO BAD that Marquette Harbor Cruises has decided to leave town after three years of providing cruises to tourists and locals along the shores of the city and county.
The Isle Royale Queen III was popular but apparently not quite popular enough.
And the season’s too short. You won’t find many of us cruising on Lake Superior when it’s 30 degrees outside and the snow’s flying.
It was the same problem with the horse-and-carriage rides downtown several years ago. Remember? It was a cute idea but it’s tough to make a living when you’ve got only about five months of suitable weather for carriage rides.
You gotta wonder about our golf courses here, as well. We love ’em, they’re beautiful, but here in the U.P., some of them are struggling financially with only a May-to-October season.
Come to think of it, golf as a sport is struggling. More than 150 courses closed down across the nation last year.
ARE WE LOOKING for someone to create jobs in Marquette County?
Bison Oil LLC says it can do just that. Bison is the investment group that’s considering locating an oil refinery either at Sawyer or nearby.
Why build a refinery way up here? Because of the oil coming out of North Dakota these days. Right now, the crude oil is being transported all the way down to Texas for refining, then brought all the way back up here for distribution. Makes more sense to refine it up here.
About the jobs. Vikki Kulju, the executive director of Telkite which owns a substantial chunk of Sawyer, estimates construction of a refinery would require between 400 and 800 workers for 2-3 years.
After that, 25-50 workers to operate the refinery, and another 50 or so to drive the trucks.
Bison is planning to build five refineries in the Midwest, and originally Sawyer was low on the list of prospective locations…but a closer look at Sawyer’s infrastructure (including rail lines) and Michigan’s business-friendly climate convinced Bison’s people that Sawyer should be higher on the list.
Kulju says Bison is still just “kicking the tires” here but may eventually decide to “take a test drive.” A decision is likely within a year.
Community reaction will play a part in the company’s decision, as will of course, economics.
A wild, wild guess: we may be facing another environment vs jobs debate here in Marquette County if Bison decides to do more than kick the tires.
IF YOU’VE GOTTEN the impression that you’ve been hearing more about local meth busts lately, you’re right.
In 2009, there were three meth busts in the county. Last year, more than 60. Ishpeming has been a hot spot: three cases in 2013, 11 cases in 2014. Cops have been busy.
Ishpeming Police Chief Dan Willey says most of meth houses aren’t producing the drug for huge profit. They’re making it for their own use or use by their friends.
It’s a cheap high. Keeps you awake for days at a time, makes you feel great. Until you come down, and then have to make some more.
Unfortunately, it’s not all that difficult or expensive to make. The one essential ingredient is pseudoephedrine, a decongestant you can buy at the drug store. There are limits on how much you can buy each month, and you have to sign for it, which in turn puts you on a data base.
Cops are checking the data bases regularly. That tells them who’s likely concocting the stuff.
But then they have to locate the labs and the “druggists.” That takes time and personnel.
More than 60 busts a year, and rising? Yeah, you could say we have a meth epidemic here.
HOW ABOUT WE conclude with something more upbeat and healthful?
Like something called the “906 Polar Roll.”
It’s a first-time event for fat bikes scheduled for February 21st. A 35 mile trail race and an 18 miler, from Ishpeming to the Lower Harbor in Marquette.
The 906 Adventure Team is sponsoring the race.
Marquette’s in the forefront of the fat bike craze, and this race will put a stamp on it. Applicants are already signed up from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, the Lower Peninsula, and of course, the UP.
Just a teenie-weenie, little controversy is brewing over the race. For five hours on the 21st, the fat-bikers will be sharing some of the trails with snowmobilers, some of whom aren’t enthralled with the idea.
Safety’s a concern.
Can’t we all just get along? Maybe share a beer or two at the “Polar Roll’s” after-party at the Black Rocks cannery after the race.
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