Will These Businesses Reopen in 2019?

[Wonder Woman]

I have heard rumors that a few local businesses may not reopen in 2019. Wondering if anyone else has heard and/or can confirm these rumors. It's sad to see some of these local establishments struggle and possibly be gone.

1) McDonald's Bakery/Cops & Doughnuts:  The building is for sale and they have indicated that want to reopen in the spring in a higher volume location. However, I've read employees are saying there may not be any plans to actually reopen in the spring.

2) Biercamp Market:  Following the power outage from the late summer storms, Biercamp closed and claimed they lost a lot of their inventory when the coolers were offline. They said they intend to open back up in the spring, but I've heard many rumors that they will stay closed, just as Best Choice Market did before them.

3) Stix Bar:  Stix is closed for the winter, which I think is something they have not done in recent years. A Facebook post said something along the lines of "we hope to see you in the spring." I've heard the restaurant and bowling alley may not reopen, though.

[Willy]

I think it was a mistake to rename McDonald's bakery. The name should not have been messed with and their products should have remained exactly as was before. After all that's why they stayed in business for over 100 years. It became a tourist stop and locals went somewhere else for their goodies.

As far as Biercamp is concerned. Back up generators are not that expensive so if they did not have enough business sense to protect their inventory then I guess they have to suffer the consequences.

I've always wondered how they stayed in business. Especially the bowling alley which has always been a crap shoot as to when it would be open. It's a nice location for tourists but not so convenient for locals.

[XLFD]

When the downtown Bonser's closed its doors in January 2001, and was demolished, it signaled the end of having any supermarket this side of the Shop & Save.  If you recall, Shop & Save and that store was ran by the same owners and they rationalized that the majority of shoppers would travel an extra mile or two to get to the nearest store, which was S&S.  Bob Neal brought the land and had an idea of continuing the supermarket, but ran into roadblocks from the City who wanted something more than utilitarian-- like condos, lots and lots of condos.  

The greatest threat to businesses in Ludington are the micromanagers of our city government in the DDA, the Planning Commission and the city council creating their own mess by over-planning the downtown into irrelevancy and patting themselves on the back for doing so, rather than let the free market work its magic.  

[Willy]

I completely agree with your assessment X. I still think back on the Bonsor store and what a mistake it was to close it. They were always busy.

[Freedom Seeker]

Those were the days when we could enjoy going downtown in our little hometown. Now it belongs to the big-city minded DDA. Did I hear Henderson will not return as chair next year? Maybe there is hope.