IT’S TAKEN A while but Rotations Deli, across from the Commons, is finally opening today (Thursday).
Owner Cliff Jacobson had planned to open in mid-May, but problems with construction and permits sprang up so he’s missed part of the summer season. So it goes.
Today’s a soft launch with a limited menu. No gyro, no cudighi yet. But there will be six other items–among them, cilantro-pork tacos, a falafel, and a bacon corn dog. The corn dog will not contain a hot dog; rather, it’s a thick hunk of bacon dunked in a cornbread mix and deep-fried. Sounds awfully tasty but not recommended for customers with clogged arteries.
“The food’s gonna be awesome, it’ll be quick, and it’ll be reasonably priced,” Jacobson says. “These aren’t things I just threw together. I’ve spent a lot of time on them.”
Rotations Deli is located in a former barber shop.
Rotations is a tiny space, squeezed between Remie’s and Marquette Wallpaper and Paint. Strictly take-out, room for maybe four customers at a time inside.
And Jacobson will be essentially a one-man operation, though he’ll likely have some help from friends and family to start.
Will it succeed? Is there a market for a tiny sandwich shop in the center of downtown, with serious, established competition up and down West Washington and Third Street?
Jacobson and Marquette will soon find out.
PROGRESSIVE YET PRACTICAL.
That would describe the seven City Commission candidates who spoke at the League of Women Voters forum Wednesday evening. (Two candidates, Barrett Engle and Cody Mayer were unable to attend.)
Some of the candidates might reject the term “progressive,” at least as it’s used in national politics, but there was mostly agreement among them when it came to…
1) shoreline development–all opposed it…
2) marijuana sales–most supported it, if not now, then eventually…
3) the homeless–most said we needed to take care of them while also protecting the interests and safety of the rest of us…
4) climate change–they all agreed the city needs, in some fashion, to take action to protect the city from it…
5) housing affordability–they all agreed the city needs to somehow enable more folks to buy and rent homes, condos, and apartments in the city.
No surprise there.
The point, though, is there was general agreement on virtually every issue.
The further point is they were all smart, informed, and engaged. As a result, the city can’t lose no matter which four candidates win in the primary election on August 6th. And which two are elected to the City Commission in November.
By the way, the Commission chambers were packed, standing room only. A good sign. An engaged populace.