Fit to be Thai'ed

[XLFD]

Three hours ago, a business right off the downtown plaza, Thai Mango, put up a Faceball post showing a couple of pictures and their disappointment with the City's planning of the New Year's Eve festivities for the night.  It seems their business is cut off from the rest of the world by a series of fences and other obstructions put around the plaza to shut off traffic from the area where the 'beer tent' is going.  The beer tent is not scheduled to be operating until 9 PM.  This shuts off the plaza area businesses for their own paying customers for the whole afternoon and night, leading Thai Mango to regrettably inform their loyal customers on their post:

"Due to the City putting fences up for tonight's ball drop, and the inability to access our business we regret to inform you that we are closing. Happy new year."

More of the fencing and other roadblocks can be seen in the other picture:

The City's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is supposed to be set up to help all downtown businesses thrive with the nearly $200,000 they spend each year, mostly funded with their own millage (tax) and a hefty tax increment financing rate.  They run these public events, with logistical (and usually free) help from the DPW.  Wouldn't it be nice of the DDA to consider the plight of all such businesses that remain open during the rough wintry season, and allow the public some way to access these businesses when they hold events such as these?

[shinblind]

Haven't been down there to see, tell me did they leave their phony plastic skating rink in place?  

And if they did, does the DDA consider that their phony skating rink plus a beer tent might be considered a  hazard and create a liability issue?

[XLFD]

The current (phony plastic) rink is less than a 20th of the size of a standard hockey rink, so it could use a little expanding (and they do plan on doing that).  I highly suspect they took up the 25 skating boards before they set up the beer tent, but wouldn't be surprised if they used them as a dance floor.

[Wonder Woman]

Someone from CoL owes an explanation for this. Thai Mango had previously posted (but deleted after the fences went up) an ad to come to their business to enjoy a NYE special dish. This is very unfortunate. 

[XLFD]

Brandy (Henderson) Miller is defending the COL on Facebook with some specious defenses.  I know a couple of people who planned to go to the Thai this very day, but they couldn't locate how to get through for they weren't part minotaur.  It was rather disappointing arguing with BHM, for she reiterated over and over again that certain businesses weren't blocked off, while patrons and owners say otherwise.  I guess I believe them, since she doesn't quite understand the economics either:

[Willy]

If it were my business I would have taken the barriers down or moved them to allow access. Of course this is not unexpected. The special few who run Ludington do basically whatever they please.

[shinblind]

I see there is a listing that the Thai Mango is for sale.

https://commercial.century21.com/listing/106-n-james-street-ludingt...

Hope that this doesn't mean they would close and leave the area.

[Wonder Woman]

No!!! I hope they are not going out of business. This is one of my favorite ludington restaurants. 

[shinblind]

Heard that the Thai Mango was relocating to South James Street, to the building that used to sell uniforms.

[XLFD]

Hmmm, Cops & Donuts moving from the far end of James Street to the downtown area to get more foot traffic business, Thai Mango going the reverse way, supposedly with the same idea.  That's great news for South James Street, now if we can just find a good business to move into the C&D husk.

[stump]

It would seem that upon seeing the blocking off of their business that something would have been said to the city crew. If that happened and it fell on deaf ears then I would think they would have a case against the city for lost income until the barriers were removed.

[Willy]

I agree stump, however, just the fact that access to the establishment was blocked and a business would have  had to request it be removed is a huge problem. Who drew up the layout as to the location of the barriers and who approved them?  The City has many questions to answer.

[stump]

Clicking on the Century 21 listing that Shinblind provided brought up some interesting information.  Population of Ludington 17,428 ?  Household income $61 K ?     2406 unoccupied dwellings?   Are they talking about the Ludington we live in?