4 days ago
Liquor license suspended at last Bobcat Bonnie's location
Bobcat Bonnie's has a new issue with its final location revolving around Michigan's Liquor Control Commission. The location in Lansing has had its liquor license suspended by the commission and appears to be closed.
In Lansing at 637 E. Michigan Ave., an orange sign posted on the door reads 'The Michigan Liquor Control Commission has suspended the license of this establishment,' according to a photo on social media. The location appears to be closed, as calls to the restaurant were met with a busy signal.
David Marvin, a spokesman for Michigan's Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) told the Free Press Bobcat's Bonnie's liquor license in Lansing was suspended for 'dishonored payments for spirits purchases.'
'We delivered spirits, and they initiated an ETF payment that was returned,' Marvin Michigan, establishments are required to buy spirits from the commission.
Marvin said Bobcat Bonnie's owes for two separate purchases: One for $621.93 and another for $ MLCC also fined Bobcat Bonnie's $450 for the violations.
Marvin told the Lansing State Journal that the fines were issued "months ago."
Bobcat Bonnie's owners had 45 days to pay them, the Lansing State Journal reported. Marvin said the deadline for paying them expired on June 3.
"We did give them a little bit of extra time as we do with everyone," Marvin told the Lansing State Journal. "We reach out to folks when there are payments due. We don't want to suspend somebody if we don't have to."
The Free Press reached out to Bobcat Bonnie's owner, Matt Buskard, via Facebook message, who responded with no comment to the suspended Lansing liquor license.
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Bobcat Bonnie's opened the Lansing location in January 2024. The space was the former Clara's Lansing Station, which closed its doors nearly 10 years ago.
It was just last week that, after seven years in Ferndale, Bobcat Bonnie's owners announced that the location would shutter with no reason given. The Ferndale restaurant was to close after service on June 2, leaving only Bobcat Bonnie's in Lansing remaining. Fixtures, glassware, artwork and furniture at the Ferndale location were being sold.
At one time, Bobcat Bonnie's had seven March, after 10 years, Bobcat Bonnie's Corktown location — its first — shuttered abruptly. A Wyandotte location closed in January and offered the same type of sale of restaurant furnishings as Ferndale.
Buskard has taken to social media the last several months, expressing in lengthy posts the challenges and struggles the restaurant industry has endured, including the pandemic and a tough business climate with a downward trend in sales.
At one time, Bobcat Bonnie's had locations in Clinton Township at the Mall at Partridge Creek, which abruptly shuttered last August. Its Ypsilanti location closed a few months later. The Grand Rapids location is temporarily closed and was expected to move to another location, though the status is unclear, and the location is still listed on the website.
A location in Toledo, Ohio, was also planned but never opened.
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Buskard's portfolio of restaurants at one time also included the Fly Trap in Ferndale, which he acquired in February 2022, but transferred ownership back to the original owners. Last August, Buskard opened Scout Vester in the former M Brew spot in Ferndale, but closed it four months later.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@ Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Bobcat Bonnie's Lansing liquor license suspended: Here's why
