I'm sure the post-mortem is progressing. I am certainly hoping this isn't another shut down by the federal or state government over the issue of unpaid taxes, a stupid policy. It throws a large number of employees out on the street and it dries up traffic in the districts that thrive on foot traffic. MAC had almost a destination restaurant quality, and now it's not a destination anymore. And thus, Muskegon is less of a destination. The state could take over the business the same way an emergency manager takes over a city. I don't like the Emergency Manager program, but at least with such a dictator - tyrant in the restaurant office, the bills get paid, the tax gets collected and the doors stay open. Some of us need to eat, lousy at cooking for ourselves, and the MAC had two chefs on staff. The house had a beautiful steak for a modest price, and not just a sizzler.
Was it the loss of a liquor license for selling to minors.? Make the house hire a few private investigators to interdict. In other words, in the supply chain of automotive part suppliers are rarely shut down out of the blue. The supplier gets a chance to improve, and boatloads of money are spent upon consultants and enforcement talent until the supplier is re certified.
I'm wondering if the shake out in the debt crisis in Washingon has caused a sudden tightening of trade and short term business credit. This is the third sudden big finish I have noted. Utopian Market closed suddenly, to my eye. I think Edgewater Grill is down for the count.
I would like to believe I can read tea leaves when little signs show up in the world. I don't want to mention the family by name, dear to me they are. They are great people, true promoters of the region's food future. But this family had a stake in the MAC, probably a rip now in their personal finances.. So I saw one of them barbecuing outside an ordinary bar less than a month ago. That's tantamount to setting up a barbecue barrel along a street with plenty of traffic.
Alleyways closed suddenly. Cutie's closed suddenly. Mediterranean Graps and Grain closed suddenly. Journeyman closed suddenly. When a restaurant closes and ownership changes, it takes forever to transfer the liquor license. And then all the Wilbos have to cast about, looking for somewhere else to eat. Okay, all of these establishments had issue. Only one of these holes in the regional food scene has healed.
Is there something we can do as a region to identify restaurants on the verge, especially in summertime, and keep closures from blowing a hole in our tourist offerings?
Farewelll Muskegon Athletic Club
Mlive had the news.
I didn't see Edgewater open on Monday either, before sundown. I knew that place had limped along, with stories of mismanagement easy to overhear.
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