City Council Regular Meeting (Sept. 21, 2023): Beer Battered Fish in Escanaba?

 Is Something Beer Battered Fishy in Escanaba? Might be the Restaurants. 🤷

Great conversations over locally brewed beers fill the beer halls of Ludington Street. Getting people out of deer camp and into town.  The voices of an eager and youthful new administration is seeking to bring back roaring 20s to Escanaba. Who says a local beer and fish can't come together to create something tantalizing to the taste buds? After tasting the local cuisine perhaps we can develop something that finds its niche in the world market as a tourist place and an attraction to young entrepreneurs.  

Putting on the foil brainstorming cap because you never know where a good ideas can come from.....

Escanaba Marina

 What might a mad scientist have created? Sometimes good food can help us discover a lot about the world and all of our local peoples.

Let us say we get a little crazy and take some New Belgium Beer, mix that with local flour/corn and put that on some Great Lakes fish from one of Munising's or local commercial fish outlets! We might invent a truly unique entree to offer at our marina (We might also consider putting Dobbers Pasties, farm to table seasonal items, and Native American traditional food on the menu in addition to standard menu food. A community affair! ).

 Sure, it might only be one entree of fish of the day but people might pay more for it because its UP made local and tourists love that stuff. Then offer dessert from our local candy factory Sayklly's. (Consider local restaurants supplying the specialty dish so to retain their knowledge and then use a scannable code on the menu highlighting which establishments they came from. Tourists like to explore and eat in multiple places. The menu becomes a tourism advertisement.) 

OMG the insanity keeps going! What if we also hosted in addition to standard drink offerings some of our local signature wines from places like Leighs Winery and the new distillery or a pint of favorites from Herford & Hops. A one stop shop for good fish but also a nice sampling of local offerings? 🤔

Going deep for good ideas!

Keep in mind the pricing strategy for our visitors and locals. Competitive Food Analysis

Food sells big and often attracts a lot of visitors in addition to other area attractions.

Sometimes a little experimenting can lead to bigger industry cross connections that enhance the whole and the local economy. Let us ponder more local food offerings along with attracting young entrepreneurs to our main street as well how to coordinate marketing to tack our declaration of economic revolt to declining towns in the U.P.! We will Red Buck the trend as a mythical place! 

Notice the related factors of community engagement, local attractions, and other trajectories that seem to align with the Five Factors Driving Economic Growth in Small Cities

A couple of articles:

Homecoming breweries on Esky agenda

Public hearings set for brewery tax abatements  

Who knows maybe we will lure a local commercial fishing boat to support our restaurants and name it the Escanaban or something. Local Native American tribes could consider buying and sponsoring a commercial fishing ship. i.e. not only catching fish but taking people on 2 hour tours for $$ that teach about Great Lakes fishing, Native fishing histories and ecology of Great Lakes sustainable restoration. Perhaps let them keep a fish or two. Two ways of making income and allow for fishing rights to help the tribes and the community. Three if you consider the possibilities of fishing expeditions or four if one occasional extends a casual outdoor dining experience on a boat. Not to mention enhancing a smoked fish industry that might encourage a wider brand for tribe revenue diversification and local enhancement (i.e. farm and natural. U.S. imports seafood.). i.e. exportable product. Park that ship right out in front. :) 

I'm hungry now! Where can I buy some fish sticks?