The Place Where Ludington Talks

Three More Down for the Count in Ludington

Today the E-edition of the Daily News reported: Two Ludington businesses have, closed, Pomorski’s Tavern in the Fourth Ward, and the Plaza Cafe in the James Street Plaza, downtown.

Pomorski’s Tavern closing surprised Community Development Director Heather Venzke.

“It’s been a staple in the 4th Ward for quite some time and I would hope someone would step in and restart that,” she said after learning this morning the business was closed.

Why Pomorski’s is closed and for how long was not known this morning.

Venzke said she has received two or three inquiries so far this month from people interested in opening a bar or restaurant in Ludington.

The written article in the regular paper confirmed this and noted that the City Assessor had received a sheriff's deed in September 2010 for the Corner Cafe with a redemption date of March 2. That has also been closed.

Ms. Venzke was very surprised that the Plaza Cafe was closing. I'm not surprised. I remember the flap that happened when the Plaza Cafe's owners objected to the new Skate Park being renamed The Plaza. The skate park name stayed and I'm sure City Hall remembered the audacity of the Plaza Cafe's owners. And I'm sure the owners remembered the city's gesture-- which amounted to a middle-finger extended at them. I hope they set up shop elsewhere, they had a nice place.

If anyone has learned anything from X's DDA series, The Development of Authority 1-5, it should be this. Government and businesses are like oil and water, they don't mix well. Ms. Venzke and most of Ludington Government who have never ran an honest business, will never get this idea.

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Permalink Reply by AQUAMAN on January 31, 2011 at 9:25pm

Dittos to the oil/water. Didn't P-more's get sold of recent, and the family no longer owned it? Perhaps something changed there that wasn't in keeping with the traditional establishment? The Dow crews used to frequent that, leaving work, and as such, that made most of their business, that's probably tapered way off too. As for the Cafe's, I'm kinda confused, don't know one from the other really. But if the DDA is so great, how come 3 more businesses are Kaput? There was a time and age when the DDA types, and Chamber went out to ask business owners how they were and how they could help them increase sales, no longer fashionable I would guess. Too busy hustling bands for the FNL events, and catering to the tourists, not wise imho.

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Permalink Reply by charlemagnetism on February 1, 2011 at 10:59pm

if the dda was such a boon to our local businesses why is ms dda herself so surprized when they go under.

heres the likely reason... they play favorites. the two johns amonsgt the heather didnt like the uppity stand the plaza cafe took with them and like others the city have problems with they wound up losing. only ate once at the plaza but it was good grub at a good $. someone treated me thats why.