ELLSWORTH -- An upscale restaurant that put northern Michigan on the fine dining map won't re-open this season.
Tapawingo chef and owner Harlan "Pete" Peterson said Thursday he won't open the Ellsworth restaurant this spring, a "difficult decision" forced in part by a poor economic climate in the state and region.
"It's showing the trend of business in general over the past few years," said Peterson, who opened Tapawingo 26 years ago this spring in a historic home along St. Clair Lake on the north side of the village. The restaurant gained national acclaim for its unique menu, drew reviews from media outlets such as the New York Times, and attracted world famous chefs like Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse.
Peterson said the restaurant continued to draw strong summer crowds, but off-season business was in decline and the restaurant closed over the winter. Tapawingo built its reputation through its one-of-a-kind menu and Peterson wasn't interested in scaling back.
"I felt we were having to compromise our style and standards to keep things going," he said. "I think we could've gone on with a simplified menu, a more common menu, but that wasn't our style."
"We ran kind of a rarified thing," he continued. "It's hard to give up."
Peterson also was among early restaurateurs in northern Michigan to feature and promote local foods on his menus.
"To me, that's a standard of good cooking. We have amazing producers in this area," he said. "You take advantage of what's in your neighborhood and your vicinity."
Peterson said he's interested in selling the restaurant, and is convinced it could be a profitable seasonable business under the right ownership. He also would assist in the ownership transition.
"I do hope someone would still be interested," he said.
Peterson will have more time with cooking students at Northwestern Michigan College. He's served on the college's Great Lakes Culinary Institute Advisory Committee since 1997, and was named to NMC's Foundation Board.
