What's next for downtown Marquette?

Loyal locals and tourists who flock to the Downtown Marquette's Farmer's Market at the Marquette Commons from May through October will be thrilled to know that, for the first time, there will be a late fall market in November and December.
 
The farmers market is far more than a spot to purchase fresh foods or the wares of local artisans, then simply head home. It's a popular community event, says Mona Lang, the Marquette Downtown Development Authority's Executive Director.
 
"I think it's one of the best farmer's markets in the state," says Lang. "There's music, all kinds of demonstrations [including cooking, canning and growing] -- it's a very a festive atmosphere."
 
The market's two-month extension comes courtesy, in part, to a $26,000  MEDC grant. Last year's award made the expansion of the Marquette Commons facility possible, so the market could move inside. Heating improvements and other necessary repairs were parts of the project.
 
"We have a pretty short growing season, so there's already a lot of excitement building here," Lang says. "People in town are already talking about it and looking forward to it."
 
This year's market included 46 vendors who lure a crowd of about 1,000 people to the Marquette Commons each Saturday morning. 
 
What else? Plenty of renovation and restorations, including a flashback.
 
Back to the 50s we go -- in downtown Marquette -- as a $1.5 million renovation of the historic Delft Theater continues. Lang hopes to see it up and running by next summer. If Mother Nature cooperates, that's a realistic time frame.
 
The 100-year-old building is located at 139 West Washington Street. At the recommendation of the Michigan State Preservation Office, it's being restored to the decade of jukeboxes and soda fountains to stay in character with its vintage marquee. Lang is working together with developer Tom Vear, of the Delft LLC Group, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to help obtain the grant funding necessary to bring the dilapidated landmark back to life.
 
"We plan on making it a historical theater type of venue with the marquee all refurbished," Vear said in a recent interview.
 
"It's a restaurant that will probably show second-run movies during the dinner hour," Lang says. "This is bringing 20 jobs to Marquette."
 
The renovated theater, which will most likely be named "The Delft," will breathe new energy and vitality into the city's downtown, Lang predicts.
 
Marquette Mayor Robert Niemi concurs.
 
"It's an important part of downtown, and I think it's a really exciting opportunity for the city to get the marquee back in fine shape for the re-use of a theater," Niemi told the Marquette City Commission earlier this year.  "The marquee is such a signature item. It's the nostalgia of the 50s and 60s–or maybe even the 30s and 40s, I'm not sure how old it is, but it's just an exciting project."
 
Another dilapidated Marquette building also is on its way back to vibrancy.
 
Amelda Properties, which Lang says is comprised of a group of sisters, all originally from Marquette, recently purchased the building that formerly housed Backroom Obsessions with the intention of renovating into a mixed-use building.
 
The three-story building, at 215 South Front Street, might accommodate a proposed retailer and three residential units. Plans are in the infancy stage, so many things are possible, Lang says; nevertheless, she's very pleased to see the empty, blighted property land in the hands of a development company that will improve downtown Marquette's aesthetic landscape and pump even more vitality into it.
 
Lang plans to work with the developers, if possible, along with MSHDA and the MEDC to secure grants to fund whatever the building becomes.
 
"The building has been vacant for a long time," she says. "It's blighted and I would love to see it come back to life."
 
And don't forget the many annual events that draw crowds to Marquette.
 
October saw the second annual  Baraga Harvest Festival take place in the 100 block of West Baraga Avenue, drawing crowds downtown with food and drink, live music and street dancing, chef demonstrations, cider pressing, bobbing for apples, crafts, games and other kids' activities. 
 
Coming up in November is the downtown shopping and entertainment annual event, Ladies Night, on November 13, as Marquette businesses gear up for the holiday season.

Fall is in the air – don't miss it.

Jeff Barr is a freelance writer who has lived in Michigan for more than 46 years. He can be reached by email at jeffbarr88@gmail.com or on Twitter, @jeffbarr88.