was hoping maybe a business owner could chime in on this, heard on the news this morning that they will be requiring bars, restaurants in the area to have a plan submitted to safely be able to conduct business as the weather changes and people will be forced to move indoors and away from outside dining or seating, they also said that it is expected that another 30% of bars and restaurants will not survive the winter because of the loss of ability to have outdoor patios as indoor seating will be limited based on guidelines. My question is does Michigan have the same plan in place and what are thoughts on how the U.P. establishments will handle this or be able to as we all know how busy places become during the snowmobile season, weekends are elbow to elbow at some places. I just hope all of these places will be allowed to conduct business and survive. I can just see the media or the governor turning this into another Sturgis conspiracy. Thoughts?
How will the U.P handle the coming influx
- Thread starter euphoric1
- Start date
Buddy always has a hot thermos with him and we always wave him off saying we’re good. This year could be different with saddle bag meals. If motels not open it won’t make much difference with no place to stay. Just depends if double whammy hits flu and covid that some are forecasting. I always get a hot flu shot and will get Covid vaccine if available. Those 2 vaccines will be game changers. I’m not an antivaccer so gimmie the shot and I’m good to go. I’m riding if I can and will support whoever is open.
pclark
Well-known member
Not a business owner but in the Manitowish Waters, WI area (Vilas County) restaurants and bars have definitely scaled back this past summer. Places that have been open all week are not now and they don't have regular hours. With Labor Day come and gone we enter the slow season so it will be very tough for them I think. Sadly, people are still avoiding public places, I think that will go on for some time. We try to support all the business's in our area and they are all very appreciative. I know I don't have to say this to this group but leave them as big of a tip as you can, it's tough right now in the Northwoods for so many of people that work in or own hospitality.
Midwest Player
Member
This summer when I stopped in the Parkview on a week day the bar area was elbow to elbow. The motel was sold out. I should qualify this by saying just about all the bar patrons were construction workers who just got off work for the day. For those that don't know, the highway between Houghton and Twin Lakes was repaved this summer so many construction workers were in the area and some were staying at the Parkview. Also the bridges on the Firesteel rivers are being replaced and this project will continue thru 2021. I doubt if work will continue in the dead of winter.
As far as masks go, all the staff at the Parkview had masks on from the desk clerk, to the bartender, and the waitress. None of the bar patrons were wearing masks, but since they were drinking they weren't required. If you go in one of the stores like Walmart you will be required to wear a mask and if you don't you will be approached by someone to tell you to put one on. They won't let you come in without one.
I had several contractors come to my house this summer to give estimates and do work. None of them wore a mask even for the initial meeting with me.
Houghton County had very low covid rates until the Mich Tech students returned. It is now exploding, and on a cases per million basis is probably the worst in MI. If Tech can't get this under control, I wouldn't be surprised to see a shutdown of the bars and restaurants again.
https://www.mtu.edu/flex/testing/statistics/
https://www.mistartmap.info/?fbclid=IwAR0hc3ePrF4BaoR9obNHcPxNWYQOBaN8kF0X3nD-OvFalmqn9uAbbc9A36c
As far as masks go, all the staff at the Parkview had masks on from the desk clerk, to the bartender, and the waitress. None of the bar patrons were wearing masks, but since they were drinking they weren't required. If you go in one of the stores like Walmart you will be required to wear a mask and if you don't you will be approached by someone to tell you to put one on. They won't let you come in without one.
I had several contractors come to my house this summer to give estimates and do work. None of them wore a mask even for the initial meeting with me.
Houghton County had very low covid rates until the Mich Tech students returned. It is now exploding, and on a cases per million basis is probably the worst in MI. If Tech can't get this under control, I wouldn't be surprised to see a shutdown of the bars and restaurants again.
https://www.mtu.edu/flex/testing/statistics/
https://www.mistartmap.info/?fbclid=IwAR0hc3ePrF4BaoR9obNHcPxNWYQOBaN8kF0X3nD-OvFalmqn9uAbbc9A36c
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goofy600
Well-known member
My one thought is if the bars and restaurants have to run at limited capacity will the patrons be willing to get in warm up have what they need ( food, drink, or what ever) and move on in a timely manner so it can open up space for next group or person to get in! And will people working be willing to ask patrons to take there break and move on or just keep feeding the one that’s already there. But we as snowmobilers have to try to share space as others may be needing to get in and warm up.
goofy600
Well-known member
Who is this you and your you are talking about?
It's you and that's all you need to understand.
I certainly do not speak for everyone because there are a lot of places that rely on tourism and weekend warrior wannabes ditch banging FIB/FWB's for their livelihoods but I am not one of those people. I don't make a red penny off of YOU, ever have, ever will, so YOU just don't matter to me.
Yeah, sure, a lot of places need your dollar but if a person doesn't have their good health money doesn't matter.
Find something to do in Pleasant Praire where you reside, there must be plenty of fun and exciting things to do there, right? Think of it like a "staycation" then you can be just like me, living working and playing where YOU hang YOUR hat.
goofy600
Well-known member
So your saying that the Houghton Hancock area would be a thriving metropolis without MTU and the tourism dollar coming in? As you said you haven’t made a dollar off tourism but I would bet most of the places you go and shop at and support you need some of this income to live or they would be out of business and you would have no place to go so then you would be out of business. Evil cycle we live in but to think an area can survive without everyone working together is just impossible. And as a side note I now live full time in the UP have sense March but have owned a place in UP for 16 years. So I do understand how the UP works and not just as a weekend warrior.It's you and that's all you need to understand.
I certainly do not speak for everyone because there are a lot of places that rely on tourism and weekend warrior wannabes ditch banging FIB/FWB's for their livelihoods but I am not one of those people. I don't make a red penny off of YOU, ever have, ever will, so YOU just don't matter to me.
Yeah, sure, a lot of places need your dollar but if a person doesn't have their good health money doesn't matter.
Find something to do in Pleasant Praire where you reside, there must be plenty of fun and exciting things to do there, right? Think of it like a "staycation" then you can be just like me, living working and playing where YOU hang YOUR hat.
Dammit goofy600, see what "YOU" did? "YOU" went and ruined it for everyone! I hope "YOU" are real proud of "YOURSELF" !
OMG!!!
goofy600
Well-known member
Dammit goofy600, see what "YOU" did? "YOU" went and ruined it for everyone! I hope "YOU" are real proud of "YOURSELF" !
Sorry my fault I killed the UP. Lol if she only knew where pleasant prairie was she would know of the evil playground I grew up in.
A thriving metropolis? I do not want that.
Somehow people in rural and remote areas survive without Walmart or megasupermarkets.
And I don't mind someone like you....maybe.... moving here. Lots of fine people everywhere, lots of turds too, heck maybe I am one because I sure come off as one here! But I like what I like and love it here. I'm of the conform or be cast out yooper mindset and a lot of what I see coming I do not want and they should just turn around and go back.
A guy from Illinois just bought a place about a mile from me, I haven't met a he guy but he has plans on living here. I talked to a contractor that bid on some work from him and he said he seems kinda like he wants to keep to himself. Sounds like my kinda guy. But he's gonna have a rough go of it, his place is in a hole with a very long and twisted road that he is going to have to keep open. Ripping a sled around here and actually being able to handle the snow during an average winter here is another beast altogether. I don't even bother trying to keep my 1/2 mile road open, I snowshoe in grab my Tundra and use it to get all my stuff in and out.
And as far as the University goes, again, don't care. I've got my piece of paper and while it was fun it seems like I could have spent my time more wisely. Universities have become melting pots for liberal thinking in a governmental system so broken already I don't even waste my time watching it all fail. Vote for crap with corn or crap with peanuts when it's so easy to just avoid it but keep on being a sheeple and think your vote will matter
I have seen all kinds of systems and parties in control and it's all the same load of crap.
Only one person can shutdown the winter in the UP and that’s Whitmer and I wouldn’t put it pass her to do it. If grooming funds are withheld trail riders are screwed. I plan on putting on big miles in UP if possible otherwise northern WI gets my business. It would be tragic for UP biz to miss a winter season but all up to Whitmer imo.
dfattack
Well-known member
I know I come across like that but I'm known for being a pretty jovial guy.
I'm also not going to blow smoke up someone's tail and tell them what they want to hear, it's not fair to you and it's not fair to anyone including me.
I'm going to take a shot and say that when full restrictions go into place this winter you won't be going anywhere.