Empire’s Friendly Tavern purchases Deering’s Market, envisions open-air mercato for 2021
From staff reports
Frank Lerchen has big ideas for the vacant space he now owns next to Joe’s Friendly Tavern, his popular restaurant in downtown Empire. Lerchen purchased the building that used to house Deering’s Market late last month from Sue and Phil Deering. The grocery store closed in April 2018.
Lerchen is installing a septic system and drain field and hopes to build a covered, but open-air Mercato featuring food, cocktails and a permanent farmers market. He hopes to open next May.
Lerchen announced the news last week on the Friendly’s Facebook page, and put out a call for interested vendors, including farmers, bakers and artists.
“I believe it would be an asset to the downtown area and give vendors a permanent covered area to set up shop,” wrote Lerchen, who encouraged interested parties to call the Friendly Tavern at 231-326-5506.
Lerchen confirmed to the Glen Arbor Sun that he has already received phone calls of interest from potential vendors.
“I’m limited on seating (inside the restaurant),” he said. “I thought the mercado would fill the need.”
Much of the former Deering’s Market space has been demolished, said Lerchen, but the “really cool old” girders and trusses in the ceiling of the building will remain.
Lerchen came up with the idea for an open-air mercato after seeing similar venues in Florida, which included a restaurant and bar area, and live music. He confirmed that his business would include a roof and open walls. Garage doors would enclose the space every evening.
“We’ll have really nice air flow through there and give people a different place to go to the Friendly for their burger and beer.”
Lerchen is eager to see which vendors and farmers express interest. He hopes to create a synergy with the weekly summer pop-up farmers market, which currently happens across the street next to the Post Office.
“The only thing I don’t want is to become a flea market,” said Lerchen. “I’d like vendors to make (the mercato) their permanent space and to make it presented well. I don’t want card tables where things are just laid out.”
“This could be a real benefit for Empire.”
