AMPERSAND IS NO more. At least the name "Ampersand" is gone. (Next to the door temporarily is a big question mark.) The downtown co-working space, which has struggled to stay solvent over the last two years, is being renamed "Campfire Coworks," and, more important, it's coming under new management. The new ... Continue Reading
Why Did the Chamber Die?
The Marquette Chamber failed while the West End Chamber survives THE DISSOLUTION OF the Marquette Chamber of Commerce, which officially took effect just a few days ago, may have come as a shock to some but the handwriting had been on the wall for several months, if not longer. The reason for the shutdown? No surprise, ... Continue Reading
The Graffiti Investigation, Ampersand’s Future, and One Marquette Place’s Comeback from a Shaky Debut
NO SUSPECTS YET in the graffiti case at the Fit Strip recreational park in Marquette. "We're taking it very seriously," says police chief Blake Rieboldt. "We have a detective assigned to the case and he's been canvassing the neighborhood." The swastika graffiti was first reported to the police back on July 19th--it ... Continue Reading
Marquette’s Chamber and Ampersand “In Transition”
CHANGES ARE IN the works for Marquette's Chamber of Commerce and its co-working space, Ampersand. There's uncertainty, as well. The first change came a couple of weeks ago when executive director Nick Steffey stepped down from his role, leaving that post vacant. Chamber Board president Christian Verardi, while praising ... Continue Reading
Schneider’s Job in Jeopardy
JASON SCHNEIDER, THE former executive director of the Marquette Chamber of Commerce who left town last spring for a state job in Alaska, may soon be looking for work again. Politics is the apparent culprit. Alaska's recently elected governor, Mike Dunleavy, who takes office on December 3rd, indicated during the campaign ... Continue Reading