Small Businesses Closing - German/American Restaurant
By Faye
@FayeHazel (40230)
United States
March 26, 2017 11:06am CST
Today the area's only German restaurant is going out of business with one final "German" buffet. But I should correct myself. Heinrich, the character of an owner - would correct me. Austrian and American. (For those not good at Geography - Austria is directly to the South of Germany, however I think the food is similar.)
Michael's has been a "special" place to go ever since my parents and I discovered it a few years ago. It is a supper club - and in addition to the usual chicken, fish and steak entrees they offer an array of Austrian meals as well. Schnitzels (breaded cutlet), Sauerbraten (flavorful cuts of beef), of course Sauerkraut (brined cabbage) and my own personal favorite of mine - Spätzle (small egg dumpling). I will miss Michaels and it's colorful but dated interior, It's house salad (simple greens and dressing) but I think I will mostly miss Heinrich the character who owns it, and the dinner rolls of which I have never found something as tasty.
Appropriately enough, I am going there today to treat myself to "anniversary" supper. In my other post I wrote about my failed engagement. It is appropriate that it is closing today somehow. I had my "engagement announcement" dinner at Michael's. Michael's was also my first choice for wedding caterer - as my ex was Austrian.
As much as I will miss the restaurant and it's charm, it's dinner rolls and the fact that for fine dining the quality was good and the price was fair, it would be a lie to say that I didn't see this coming. The restaurant's outside could have used some landscaping badly, and the interior was dated and worn.
Goodbye Michaels! I am sad when small, non-chain businesses close and I will miss your atmosphere, I will miss Heinrich, and I will miss the dinner rolls.
I only hope that there is a new owner at some date and I wonder why Heinrich's family didn't see fit to keep it running.
Michael's Restaurant Phone: 320-252-7100 1HomeAbout UsDiningEventsWeddingsCateringContact Us Website Designed at Homestead? Make a Website and List Your Business Locally owned by Heinrich Wurdak for over 20 years, Michael's Restaurant
14 people like this
13 responses
@Ronrybs (21492)
• London, England
27 Mar 17
@FayeHazel Actually, more than there used to be. Breweries used to own chains of them, but the competition laws have changed and there are smaller chains who don't own any breweries, as well as independents. Thank goodness!
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
27 Mar 17
Oh dear, I can't imagine a pub conversion to an apartment, but I would imagine it wouldn't fit exactly-- are a lot of your pubs privately owned? I hope the small individually owned places stay around
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209121)
• United States
26 Mar 17
It was most likely an economic decision. I think most German restaurants tend to be expensive, and I am not sure how many people actually go to them. I don't think I have ever been to an authentic German place, but there are some around, and they are a bit costly.Sorry about the broken engagement as well. I had one of those once..It was certainly devastating, however, it was for the best.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (209121)
• United States
27 Mar 17
@FayeHazel I have had some German foods, but I never ate in a German restaurant.
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
27 Mar 17
You are likely right -- the particular section of town is a little run down and not as busy as it once was, also - other than special events, I never really saw a crowd out there. If you try the German food sometime I highly recommend the Spätzle (egg dumpling) and Sauerbraten (beef and gravy) or Schnitzel (breaded cutlet)
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
1 Apr 17
@FayeHazel We did! Austria is amazing! Popping in to say a quick hello. Hope all is well. I will return asap. What a whirlwind life we've been having! No time for anything. Miss you. 
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
27 Mar 17
Oh wow! It's a goal of mine to go to Austria. Did you get to see any Klimt paintings? Freud's office?
1 person likes this
@asfarasiknow (3340)
• Bournemouth, England
26 Mar 17
It sounds as if it would have been a candidate for one of Mr Ramsay's makeovers.
2 people like this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
27 Mar 17
@FayeHazel He did Kitchen Nightmares for US and UK. But both series ended a few years ago. Yes Bar Rescue is a good one. And there's Hotel Impossible on the Travel Channel.
1 person likes this
@asfarasiknow (3340)
• Bournemouth, England
27 Mar 17
@KristenH I did once see a list of restaurants and what happened to them.after his makeovers. A high number were quickly sold or went broke anyway. I.think that they were probably too far gone by the time he was called in and his improvements weren't enough to save them.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
27 Mar 17
I like Gordon Ramsay - does he have a show where he renovates restaurants? (It's been awhile since I've watched cable) I know there's a show called "Bar Rescue" - where an expert comes in and renovates failing bars, remodels, re-brands. So true, the space had great potential... and now it will be a bingo hall.
2 people like this
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
26 Mar 17
It's always sad to see a favorite old restaurant closed down, I miss Dragon Fountain it was a great chinese restaurant we used to have family dinners at when i was a kid so long ago now....
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
27 Mar 17
Dragon Fountain sounds like a special place too, Sorry to hear that it closed.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
26 Mar 17
What a shame. Always sad to see a locally owned business go out of business.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
27 Mar 17
I know I worry about the future of small business in America
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
29 Mar 17
I'm sorry to hear another small non-chain is closing. Its sad to know so many places can't stay in business.
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
27 Mar 17
Thanks - I appreciate your kind thoughts
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
27 Mar 17
It is sad to see a business close down ..especially if it's our favourite place to go to..
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
27 Mar 17
When I think about it there are so few places left open from my childhood.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
27 Mar 17
It is always a bit sad to learn that any such business will close.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
27 Mar 17
It's a weird nostalgia it brings up, even if it is just yesterday that I was there. Never again will I get to go there, exactly.
@Tampa_girl7 (54730)
• United States
27 Mar 17
It's always sad to see a business close down
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
27 Mar 17
I never like to see it happen but especially with locally owned places.
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
27 Mar 17
Happily the engagement was 4 years ago... but so true... sad to see this restaurant go :/
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
27 Mar 17
@FayeHazel Oh wow. So long time ago. I hate to see small business close up too.
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Mar 17
@FayeHazel WE also try to buy Australian but it is getting more and more difficult. For instance, much of the processed bacon is imported. Why would this be? We have plenty of farmers producing pork. It's just crazy.
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
27 Mar 17
I think it is a good reminder to me to shop local more so.
1 person likes this
