Real Estate Prices Soar, Marthaler Moving, Wages Rising, El Santo Delayed, the E-Bike Craze, Dog Park Prospects, YMCA's Pitted Parking Lot, and Romance!!!

The Latest from Marquette, MI by Brian Cabell

IF YOU’RE WONDERING why you’re struggling to find a house in your price range in Marquette, here’s why: The average price for homes sold here between May 1st and July 31st was $424,000. Last year, in the comparable period, it was $384,000. That’s an 11% increase in one year…Not only that, but of the 40 homes sold, 12 were all cash. That makes it tough for homebuyers who need bank loans for the purchase…Oh, and this: Most of the homes sold at above the asking price…

“We had an open house on Rock Street,” says RE/MAX realtor Frida Waara, “and it was crazy. There were 18 offers.” The ever-enthusiastic Waara continues, “We have what the world wants—clean air, clean water, and community.”

Wondering how the rest of the country compares to Marquette? According to Zillow, the average sales price nationally is $412,000, less than Marquette…and in Michigan, it’s $253,000, way less than Marquette.

A BIG MOVE on US 41…Value Host Motor Inn is apparently closing within a few days, according to an employee, and Marthaler GMC will be moving across the highway into the Value Host location…“We’ll be updating everything for our customers,” says Marthaler GM Nikki Remilong. “A new showroom, doubling the size of the service department, and much more parking space.” It’s uncertain exactly when the new construction and the move will take place.

WAGES CONTINUE TO rise here in Michigan. A major ruling by the state Supreme Court, according to Bridge Michigan, means that our current minimum wage of $10.33 an hour will likely climb above $12 next year, and continue to rise through 2028…Further, the minimum wage for tipped workers—currently $3.93 an hour—will also be increasing and eventually phased out over the next four years…

No surprise—restaurant owners, who struggled mightily during the pandemic, now face an additional challenge. Some are predicting that 20% of their businesses may have to close down with the minimum wage increases.

STILL NO OPENING date for El Santo, the much anticipated Mexican restaurant next to the Children’s Museum. A new electrical system still being installed, a few plumbing problems to take care of, and then a final Health Department inspection…Are the owners disappointed by the delays? “If it was up to me,” says a smiling Carlos Romo, one of the three partners, “we would have opened the day after we bought it.”…Best guess now? It’ll be open before the end of summer.

“E-BIKE SALES HAVE been increasing dramatically in the last few years,” says Matt Calcaterra, the owner of Lakeshore Bike. “I’d say, for us, e-bikes are about 15-20% of our total sales now.” Sounds about right. Bike Retailer reports that, nationally, e-bikes accounted for only 2% of sales in 2016, and 18% last year…

Calcaterra says e-bike rentals, including mountain e-bikes, at the shop have really picked up in the last few years. Who are the buyers of the new e-bikes? Until a few years ago, it was mostly cyclists over 50 looking for a little boost; now, it’s everybody, including 20-somethings.

THE SEARCH IS still on for a new year-round dog park in Marquette. The city had been looking at a possible location near Kaufman Field, but the Board of Light and Power, which owns the property, has other ideas for it…“We’ve heard from people who want a dog park,” says City Manager Karen Kovacs, “and we continue to look for a location. But I can tell you that a lot more goes into a dog park than just a piece of property and a fence around it.”

DON’T EXPECT THAT horrendously pitted parking lot at the YMCA to be resurfaced anytime soon. Neither the city, which owns the property, nor the YMCA which leases it for $1 a year, has the money to fix it…“We’ve discussed it with them (the YMCA)” says City Manager Kovacs, “but we just don’t have the funds right now. We will consider it in our long-term planning after their field house is built.”…The Y is currently raising funds to build a field house, but it’s uncertain when that might happen.

Regarding the pitted parking lot, maybe a generous “asphalt angel” could step in to make temporary repairs?

IN CASE YOU hadn’t noticed, we’re at the high point of the tourist season. “Last week was really busy,” says Susan Estler, the CEO of Travel Marquette. “Occupancy was around 90% for all hotels and motels in Marquette, which was up slightly from last year.”…Last weekend, of course, we had Art on the Rocks, the Blueberry Festival, and a few youth sports tournaments in town…Overall, tourism is slightly down this year, owing primarily to the no-snow winter. Skiers and snowmobilers stayed away.

IT’S NOT YOUR everyday kind of store. In fact, it’s the only one in the state of Michigan. Read My Lips opened downtown just over a week ago, selling romance novels and romance merchandise. Seems like a very narrow and limited market. Not so, says owner Nikki Odom. “It’s the number one selling genre in book stores,” she tells us. “And in most book stores, it’s a section off to the side or in the back. With us, it’s front and center.”…And yes, there are sub-genres, such as Suspense Romance, Dark Romance, Sci Fi Romance, and Classic Romance…

So we’re assuming that maybe 95% of the buyers are women. “Oh, at least,” Odom assures us.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.”

—Groucho Marx