Government shutdown hurts Leelanau businesses
Photo: Steve Nowicki, right, has seen sales at Shipwreck Cafe in Empire, decrease by 20 percent as a result of the government shutdown, which has closed the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s visitor center nearby.
From staff reports
The acting president’s shutdown of the federal government, about to enter its third week, has closed all National Parks, including the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
That is hurting several Empire businesses near the National Lakeshore’s visitor center, and it’s doing so at the slow time of year when they need business the most.
Shipwreck Cafe owner Steve Nowicki estimates that he gets about 30 lunchtime customers each day in early January, and about 6 of those are Sleeping Bear Dunes employees. That’s a painful hit of 20 percent.
Nowicki was supposed to supply about 30 sandwiches for a staff meeting at the visitor center on Monday, Jan. 7, but the government shutdown has prevented Park staff from coming to work. At approximately $7.50 per sandwich, that order would have put $225 in his till.
He worries that the cancelled Saturday snowshoe hikes at the National Lakeshore are also hurting weekend sales.
Nevertheless, Nowicki wants the public to know that Shipwreck Cafe—known throughout Leelanau County for its delicious, fresh and fast sandwiches—is open 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. six days a week (closed Sundays) throughout the winter.
Meanwhile, a server at the Friendly Tavern estimated that the restaurant typically draws about 30 people for lunch who also participate in the Park’s guided Saturday snowshoe hikes. She says the slowdown in customers this past weekend was noticeable.
The Friendly, known for its burgers, also attracts the occasional Park employee for lunch.
National Lakeshore is open, come use it!
Though the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s visitor center in Empire is closed during the shutdown, and facilitated events like snowshoe hikes are cancelled, the National Park is open, for all intents and purposes. It’s ours, after all.
The Dune Climb attracted adventurous sledders over this sunny and mild weekend. Hikers trekked the usual gorgeous spots: Pyramid Point, Sleeping Bear Point, the Empire Bluffs Trail.
Friends of Sleeping Bear maintains the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, and grooms it for cross-country skiing (as they do throughout the year—government shutdown or not).
Despite the shutdown, the usual Park rules and rules of common sense still apply: dogs must be on leashes; don’t leave your trash outside; don’t drive a minivan with balding tires into the deep snow near a trailhead and hope to drive away easily …(yeah, we saw you Saturday: you know who you are!)
