[Southsider2k12]

I was reading the legals today for some unknown reason, and they were seeking permission for drainage changes. The address looks to be 4144 Franklin.

[Roger Kaputnik]

It looks like it is in the old Shoppers Fair building or parking lot. Incidentally, I have been hearing about OG coming here for about 15 years. Do they cook from fresh ingredients or is it all pre-packaged?

[JHeath]

So near Big Lots? I was thinking that it would be closer to Chili's. Maybe in the old Bakers Square bldg.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Office Depot is 41xx. Meijer is 5000.

[ChickenCityRoller]

OH JOY! Another chain restaurant. Just what this town needs!

[CaddyRich]

OH JOY! Another chain restaurant. Just what this town needs!

Come on, CCR....you didn't expect industry to come to Our Fair City, did you?

[Roger Kaputnik]

There is an argument that OG IS industrial eating.

[ChickenCityRoller]

Come on, CCR....you didn't expect industry to come to Our Fair City, did you?

Considering I've been entertaining the idea of moving our industrial shop out of this town (and State for that matter) no, I didn't expect industry to come here, lol.

There is an argument that OG IS industrial eating.

well played

[mcstumper]

Has anyone else heard the rumor that there was a surveying error at the site of the new Olive Garden restaurant that is going to kill the whole project? Any truth to it?

[Southsider2k12]

I have not heard anything, but with the extreme downturn in the economy since the project was hatched, it wouldn't surprise me if the corporation was looking for an excuse to kill the project and as many other new spots as they could around the country right now.

[Southsider2k12]

I did drive by there over the weekend, and they do still have all of the heavy equipment out there, and the little sign that said opening soon.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Speaking of surveying problems, has anyone heard of the surveying problems along 12? Apparently, many lines that are described on the books are not those on the ground--entire blocks may be involved in this.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Are we reassured when Pughk says all the permits are issued, etc., and the OG is going forward as scheduled?

If any of ye can get the article from pg. 1 of the ND from today's paper, his entire statement is there.

Are we reassured when Pughk says all the permits are issued, etc., and the OG is going forward as scheduled?

If any of ye can get the article from pg. 1 of the ND from today's paper, his entire statement is there.

[mcstumper]

I don't really know my poetry. Was that a sonnet Rog?

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=20127

Olive Garden is still in the works
City planner says site is properly zoned

Joseph Malan
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - An Olive Garden Restaurant planned for the city's south side is still being built, contrary to some rumors.

Olive Garden Media Relations Manager Mara Frazier said the restaurant is targeting a June opening.

"We are absolutely proceeding with bringing an Olive Garden to Michigan City," Frazier said. "We're extremely excited to come to the Michigan City community."

On Monday, Michigan City Planning Director John Pugh confirmed the restaurant would still be arriving in the city.

"They have the site, it's properly zoned, permits have been issued," Pugh said. "It's all internal now, with Olive Garden deciding what contractor to use."

According to Pugh, the only step left in Olive Garden's move, besides building the actual structure, was for the chain to decide whether to hire a union contractor or non-union contractor for the work.

Frazier said that problem has been solved.

"We are using a combination of qualified union and open shop labor and vendors to build our new Olive Garden in Michigan City," she said.

The restaurant will be built on Franklin Street, just north of Ryan's Steakhouse and near Office Max.

The building will occupy 7,441 square feet and will be designed in a traditional Tuscan farmhouse style, a designed based on the company's culinary institute in Italy. The restaurant will seat 247 and employ approximately 150 people.

Olive Garden purchased its liquor license from the now-closed AJ's Bar & Grill, according to Pugh. He said everything was ready to go in the middle of November, when Olive Garden began negotiations with contractors.

"From the city's point of view, there's no problems; they're clear to proceed," he said.

Construction of the restaurant, though, has been slightly behind schedule.

"We've had weather issues and so forth," he said.

Olive Garden will join Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins as new businesses opening on the city's south side. A new Sleep Inn & Suites will also be completed late 2009 or early 2010.

[lbl]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=20127

"We stay here, we go to the mall, we are the ones who are going to be eating there," Stemmler said of Michigan City residents. Therefore, Stemmler said, the work should be done by local, preferably union, contractors.

Mr. Stemmler hit it on the head. They hire outside contractors, they will use outside management and they will bite into local family owned businesses. The money will not stay in Michigan city. Therefore, City-zens, don't eat there. There are options for EVERY palette to be satisfied by Michigan City owned restaurants.

[edgeywood]

"We stay here, we go to the mall, we are the ones who are going to be eating there," Stemmler said of Michigan City residents. Therefore, Stemmler said, the work should be done by local, preferably union, contractors.

Mr. Stemmler hit it on the head. They hire outside contractors, they will use outside management and they will bite into local family owned businesses. The money will not stay in Michigan city. Therefore, City-zens, don't eat there. There are options for EVERY palette to be satisfied by Michigan City owned restaurants.

I agree...there are great restaurants in this town, we don't need another chain store.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=49973.31

Group's president sees imbalance in Olive Garden work

Joseph Malan
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - While it is true Michigan City's new Olive Garden is being built with union and non-union contractors, Jim Stemmler says the balance between the two is not even.

Stemmler, president of the La Porte, Starke and Pulaski Building and Construction Trades Council, said Thursday Darden Restaurants Inc., Olive Garden's parent company, will not use union contractors after a unionized firm, Marshall Construction, Valparaiso, finishes preparation and drainage work for the structure.

The remaining construction work, Stemmler contends, will be done by out-of-state non-union contractors.

"We stay here, we go to the mall, we are the ones who are going to be eating there," Stemmler said of Michigan City residents. Therefore, Stemmler said, the work should be done by local, preferably union, contractors.

The La Porte, Starke and Pulaski Building and Construction Trades Council consists of 23 local unions from Hammond to South Bend and Mishawaka. In November, the council discovered its constituents own 857,625 shares of stock in Darden Restaurants Inc.

The Marco Consulting Group, which represents the council, sent a letter to Darden Restaurants Inc. on Nov. 25. The letter, which was sent to Executive Chairman and CEO Clarence Otis Jr., detailed the concerns Stemmler and the council had with Olive Garden hiring non-union contractors.

"Our clients are firmly convinced that it is in their best interests as shareholders for such projects to be performed by contractors and workers who are signatories to collective bargaining agreement because they are best equipped to meet industry standards," Marco Consulting Group President Ian Jones said in the letter. "Using them is the best way to ensure that a project is constructed on time and on budget and to minimize the need for subsequent repairs."

On Tuesday, Olive Garden Media Relations Manager Mara Frazier said the new Olive Garden was being built by union and non-union contractors. While that may be the case, Stemmler said, the company isn't telling the whole truth.

City Planning Director John Pugh also confirmed Monday the building, located between Ryan's Steakhouse and Office Max, was still in construction.

The target opening date is sometime in June.

[lbl]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=49973.31

Thanks for posting that correctly...I forgot to mention I got the Stemmler quote from Saturday's N-D.

[Ang]

During my travels, I once met a man who had been to Michigan City. He said the only thing he remembered about the town was the beach and all the restaurants. He said he travelled from Detroit to Chicago a lot and would stop and eat in Michigan City every time because there were so many places to choose from and any variety of food. He said he did that for about a year, travelling once every couple weeks and he never ate at the same place twice.