STILL NO ANSWERS on exactly what's going in at the old, abandoned Arby's site off the highway, near WJMN and Bigby's. It's clearly going to be a restaurant, with a large, new slab of concrete laid out front for a sitting and dining area. The Veridea Group owns the strip mall and the property. "We can't comment on it," is all they'll say. They're leaving the announcement apparently to the lessee. The contractor, who's been doing demolition work inside, isn't talking either. Rumors have been rampant that it'll be a new Sol Azteca. The manager at the Sol Azteca downtown says she doesn't think so because she's been told nothing about … [Read more...]
Marquette’s Building Boom: Continuing or Ending?
IS THE BUILDING boom in Marquette just about over? At first glance, it might appear to be. Consider: 1) The $300 million hospital project is gearing down and is scheduled to open this spring 2) The Woods, NMU's huge residential addition, is complete 3) Same goes for the Energy Center 4) And for Harbor Vista, the apartment complex just south of downtown 5) One Marquette Place, the high rise on the lakeshore is also nearing completion 6) As is the extensive renovation at the Holiday Inn. And of course, Meijer opened up earlier this year. Plenty of other projects, as well, including Trillium House and UPAWS. Tons of money invested, … [Read more...]
“Duke” LifePoint Questions, Jazz Club Delays, Panera Rumors!!!, the Cruelty of a Stroke, Marquette’s Two Energy Dinosaurs, the View from Abroad, and Our Phenomenal Wildlife Photographer
QUESTIONS WERE RAISED last week when it was announced that LifePoint Health (the parent of UPHS) was being sold to or merged with RCCH HealthCare Partners. The press release announcing the transaction made no mention of "Duke" as in "Duke LifePoint", so did that mean Duke University was out of the deal? No, says DLP marketing director Victor Harrington. Duke is still part of the equation. It shares ownership with LifePoint and has a "clinical affiliation" with the healthcare group. Harrington further explains that it has an affiliation with only a handful of LifePoint's hospitals. For example, it has ties to UPHS Marquette, but not … [Read more...]
Questions about Hospital Sale (or Merger), Plans for a New Patisserie–and a New Coffee Shop, Anger over a News Story, More Plaudits for the UP, Tourism Figures Are Up, an Unusual Write-In Campaign, and Trillium House’s First Guest
WELL, THE RUMORS were true, after all. UP Health Systems-Marquette (along with the other UPHS hospitals in the UP) is being sold. Or "merged." Semantics. What we know, if the deal goes through, is that Apollo Global Management, a huge private equities firm that owns RCCH Healthcare Partners, is buying Duke LifePoint and all its hospitals. So yeah, it's a sale even though the new business will retain the name LifePoint. And for those of you smart enough to have owned Duke LifePoint stock, you're now a lot wealthier. One of the stipulations in the purchase agreement is that you'll get $65 for each share of DLP stock you own--that's a … [Read more...]
A New Restaurant Comes to Munising, Vicky’s Successor Named, LaCombe Takes on New Role, Travel Marquette’s New Director Making Plans, Marquette’s Leading a National Poll, Podcaster Looking for Stories, and the British Are Coming!!
TACOS IN MUNISING. Yep, they're coming to town by the end of May at the site of the old taco restaurant that shut down a couple of years ago after just a few days. And the new owners, Tom and Amie Nolan, are keeping the same name, Taco Primo, but with a different logo. A full Mexican menu, Amie says. Enchiladas, burritos, and a lot more. Seating inside and out. They've hired 13 employees already. They'll be open from 11 until 7, seven days a week, at least during the summer. The Nolans are local, by the way. Tom's a State Police Sergeant, Amie's the former manager at Bay Furnace Bagels, with plenty of previous experience in … [Read more...]
Changes Everywhere! Community Action, History Center, the Chamber, Travel Marquette….Plus Anderson Building Progress, TEDx Coming to Town, NMU Students Embracing the Real World, and Phil Niemisto Ailing but Surrounded by Friends
AS EXPECTED, A change at the top of Community Action Alger Marquette. Amy Lerlie has stepped down as executive director of the agency, following an investigation into charges by employees of harassment by Lerlie. No further details of the investigation have been released. Whether there is still legal action pending is uncertain. The interim executive director is Corey Holcomb. She's the early childcare education director at Community Action. The search for a new permanent executive director is starting. As for Lerlie, she's starting a new company involved in developing affordable housing in Michigan. She'll be based in Ishpeming … [Read more...]
The Luckiest Unlucky Girl in the World
THIRTY-FOUR YEAR old Anna Dravland woke up feeling ill on Thursday, November 16th. A headache and neck pain hadn't subsided for the last week. But calling in sick was out of the question. It was to be a big day for Travel Marquette, where she worked. Ladies Night--the shopping extravaganza--was that evening, and Travel Marquette was part of it, with a welcome station and food. There was also an important board meeting that afternoon because the executive director of the agency had just resigned. So Anna would just have to muscle through it. She put on her heavy coat, hat and gloves, said goodbye to her pit bull Karma, and took to the … [Read more...]
Recovery Room to Reopen, Brewing Cooperative Moving Forward, Major Buildup for One Marquette Place, Interest in Property Nears Founders Landing, Beacon House Plans, Marquette’s Honda Commercial Airs, Ex Travel Marquette Director Finds New Job, and Surfer Dan’s Legend Grows
THE FRONT DOOR has been locked and the lights have been out for the last few weeks, but the Recovery Room is not closed. Just a temporary shutdown for inventory, according to co-owner Linda Lassing. She says it'll reopen in early February, from 5 pm until closing, Wednesday through Sunday. Bar only, no more restaurant. If you're shutting down temporarily, mid-winter is probably the best time to do it. Business is slow, even downtown. Meantime, the Recovery Room remains up for sale. Latest word is, there's a potential interested buyer. Of course, we've heard that before, only to see the deals fall through. Fingers … [Read more...]
Recovery Room up for Sale Again, Bayou Price Slashed, Vicky’s Looking Toward the Ministry, No Progress in Nurses’ Negotiations, Former Boss at TravelMarquette Talks, Praise for the Villa, the Casa and Remie’s, and New Hotplate Owner Identified
ARE YOU LOOKING for a Christmas bargain? You might want to consider the Recovery Room downtown. Like, in actually buying it. It went back on the market last month for $450,000. And then last week, the price was reduced to $425,00. Back in 2015 when it was called the Rover, it was listed at $595,000 and nearly sold before a couple of deals fell through. The name, of course, has since been changed, management has changed, and the restaurant/bar is up and operating, but the owners apparently would still like to sell it. It's got an ideal location, on West Washington Street in the center of downtown. A handsome building. In an … [Read more...]
Benri Sushi Coming to Downtown, Masonic in Transition, Travel Marquette Seeks a New Director, Cherry Creek Market Is Bought and Renamed, Junk Becomes Art, High Schoolers Opening a Coffee Shop, and Anytime Fitness Gives…and Gives…and Gives
WE'VE GOT CRAFT breweries downtown, along with a wine bar, a tattoo parlor, a piercing shop, a waxing studio, farm-to-table restaurants, and tons of coffee shops...so why not a sushi bar? It's on the way. Thomas Flemal and his fiancee Charlene Donovan are moving their business, Benri Sushi, from Escanaba to Masonic Square in Marquette next month. "We love it here (in Escanaba)," Thomas says, "but there's just not the population to support it. And let's face it, Escanaba is a meat-and-potatoes kind of town." Benri will be moving into a tiny space on the lower level of the Masonic in early December, if things go well. Washing and … [Read more...]