Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter
After 22 years of serving the community and visitors as the most recent owners of 3’s Company Supper Club, Wednesday, Sept. 26 marked the last call for Bruce and Michelle Schwartzman.
In taking over the business in 1996 from previous owners Helen and Carl Brandt, the Schwartzman’s joined Bruce’s brother Kim and sister Laurel Streich in the restaurant business.
“I had just lost my job at Ward Paper due to the mill closing,” Bruce explains. “Laurel and Kim owned Champ’s Restaurant at the time, and were doing very well. So we decided to give the restaurant business a shot.”
Champ’s was later purchased by Bruce and Michelle’s son, Ryan, in 1999.
As the Schwartzman’s began considering retirement, they decided to place the restaurant up for sale, and has remained for sale for quite some time.
“We didn’t really push the selling of the restaurant, we didn’t contact any realtors or anything,” Bruce said. “We knew we would know when the right offer came along.”
Then in July, the wheels began to turn for the restaurant’s home stretch as Bruce was contacted by a Milwaukee-based realtor. Through ensuing discussions and negotiations, the couple came into contact with Green Bay based-Bay Title and Abstract and an agreement was reached; involving the purchase of the building and the property parcel on which it stands.
“The plan is to demolish the restaurant building and replace it with a retail building for the Dollar Tree, which is currently located in the strip mall by Piggly Wiggly,” Bruce noted.
The final step for the Schwartzman’s will be an auction of all remaining kitchen equipment and dining room furniture on Oct. 8. Razing of the building will soon follow.
When asked what he will miss most about their two-decade tenure in the restaurant business, Bruce quickly cites the people he has met and worked with.
“We were blessed with some great customers over the years and our staff was always pretty great, too,” he said. “Some of them had been coming to the restaurant and even working there longer than we owned it. We wish everyone nothing but the very best.”
As for their future plans; “Retirement!” Bruce says with a broad smile.
“We are looking forward to spending more time with our kids (Ryan and Erin) and especially our four grandchildren.”
Tuesday morning, the Merrill Redevelopment Authority (RDA) discussed the matter of a possible development agreement between the city and United Development Group of Green Bay, the developer who will be overseeing construction of the Dollar Tree Building.
According to documents released by the city, the estimated $800,000 project calls for the complete demolition of the current building on the property and the construction of a 9,000 square foot retail building to become the new home of Dollar Tree. As part of the agreement, the city would pay $90,000 in TIF development incentives to United; consisting of $30,000 to offset demolition and environmental costs, which would be paid upon completion of the building in 2019. Then an additional $60,000 would be paid ($20,000 over a three-year period ending in 2022). Reasoning behind the incentive includes retention of an east-side business and existing jobs.
During discussion Tuesday, City Administrator Dave Johnson indicated a majority of the restaurant’s paved parking area, which lies in the East Main Street right of way, is leased from the city on an annual basis. However Johnson did question if the parcel is large enough to accommodate a 9,000 square foot build.
“I’m not quite sure how they are going to fit that on the lot, but they seem to think they can,” Johnson said. “They will have to lease property from us, like 3’s did for parking.”
City Finance Director Kathy Unertl indicated real estate value on the property will increase by approximately $500,000, once the Dollar Tree project is complete.
According to Johnson, the city has yet to see plans from the developer nor receive a development timeline.
Lack of that information raised concerns from committee members as well as a need for a timeline to be set for the developer, to qualify for the incentives.
The RDA ultimately opted to bring the agreement back for further consideration next month, when more information is available.