An earlier version of this story stated that the Magnuson Hotel at Country Village is set to be auctioned; information obtained on Friday, December 30 2016 negated what was said in this story. Our update on Country Village can be read here: https://wotsmqt.com/country-village-hoping-turn-corner/.
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NO SURPRISE, REALLY.
The Steinhaus Market has shut down after one and a half years at its location on US 41 just south of downtown.
The announced reason? To consolidate their energy and focus on their main business, the Steinhaus Restaurant downtown. The Market was designed to help the restaurant with cold storage and preparation of food but it was also, itself, a cafe/deli/bar/night spot.
And that was part of the problem. A muddled identity. It was a breakfast cafe at one point, then later announced it would become more of a nighttime venue with music. And then it became more of a deli.
And through all its iterations, it never attracted a large and loyal following. The parking lot was frequently empty.
The good news in all this is that the Steinhaus Restaurant, now in its fourth year, seems here to stay. Excellent food, much of it locally sourced, and well-prepared. And it has a large and loyal following.
JOHNSON’S SUPERIOR SHOES on Third Street is closing down this Saturday. The building has been sold (more on that below).
It’s the end of an era for Johnson’s, but not really. One of the partners, Rex Elliott, is retiring, but the other, John Thomsen, isn’t. He’s still an energetic man at 63 and he’ll be going to work for his son, Kevin, who recently opened the Queen City Running Company, another shoe store.
John also does a sports talk show on Fox Sports 105.1, and play-by-play, as well. So he’ll remain busy while spending more time with his grand kids.
Johnson’s has been in business here in Marquette for 70 years. They started back in 1946 at what is now the Cruise-n-Coffee location on Third Street, then moved to two locations on Front Street, then to Washington Street.
While Johnson’s is closing down this weekend, the other tenant in the building, Perani’s Hockey World, will remain open, apparently through February. Hockey World’s future at this point is uncertain.
SO WHO’S MOVING in to the Johnson’s location on Third Street?
Jim’s Music, which is one of the final, lonely tenants in the old, mostly vacant Marquette Mall on US 41. They’ve signed a purchase agreement and should close on the deal by the end of February.
They’d been looking for a new location with adequate parking for over a year. Looks like they’ve found it.
Their customers, including their music students and instructors, will certainly follow them to their new location.
As for the ghost town they’re leaving at Marquette Mall, well….anybody wanna buy a big piece of property with a big, outdated building on the highway?
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THE NORTHERN MICHIGAN University Choral’s version of “Landslide” is now nearing a half million views, thanks to Facebook, youtube and promotion by local media.
The hype is well justified. It’s a stunning a cappella rendition of the Fleetwood Mac hit shot on location at Presque Isle earlier this winter. Nicely shot and edited as well.
It’s a great advertisement for NMU’s music department.
And for the grandeur of the great outdoors that all of us up here enjoy.
YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD about the Ball Drop Bash, sponsored by the Double Trouble folks at the Masonic Square building New Years Eve.
A big party, 9-1 am, with Frank An Da Beanz, plus DJ music, plus dueling pianos, plus drinks. And profits from the bash go to charity. There’s also the big party outside with thousands expected in the street around midnight. A light show, music, a ball drop–a new one with LED lights.
What you might not have heard about is the party on the 30th at the Doghouse–that’s the restaurant/bar recently purchased by the Double Trouble folks. On that night, they’ll hold a pre-New Year’s Eve party specifically for all those hospitality workers who’ll be working their butts off on New Year’s Eve.
But everyone’s invited.
And here’s the thing. They’re going to feature dueling pianos that night as well, in a relatively intimate venue. If you’ve never seen dueling pianos, you gotta stop by. You ask them to play any song from the last 60 years or so, give them a tip, and they’ll play it.
They have an incredible repertoire. Sing along? Absolutely. Nostalgia? In heavy doses. Get a little crazy? Sure.
Double Trouble’s hoping to bring the dueling pianos back to the Doghouse (to be renamed Digs) regularly this year if a deal can be worked out.
Guaranteed to liven up Washington Street.
HERE’S MORE PROOF that saunas might be our best medicine.
A study just released by the University of East Finland shows that men taking saunas 4-7 times a week were 65% less likely to contract Alzheimer’s disease than those who had taken saunas only once a week.
The study followed 2000 middle-aged men over a 20 year period.
Previous studies have shown saunas to also reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death, coronary artery disease, and overall mortality.
The apparent bottom line message: Put away your pills and fire up your sauna. Every night.
You got news? Email me at briancabell@gmail.com.