The next time you stop at Chicago Bay Marketplace for dinner or just a treat, you’ll see the return of some familiar faces. (L-R) Sandy Bockovich, Lisa Mesenbring and Julie Kean are looking forward to seeing friends and neighbors at Hovland’s meeting place.
After a brief hiatus, Chicago Bay Marketplace reopened on Thursday, May 8, beginning a new chapter in the history of the popular Hovland business. The new chapter includes some familiar characters, such as owner Lisa Mesenbring.
Mesenbring invites the community to stop by to celebrate the re-opening, as well as the anniversary of when she first opened the doors of Chicago Bay Marketplace six years ago. Mesenbring started the business in May 2008 after purchasing the building that had stood vacant for most of the time since it was built in 1998. She and her husband Jay Mesenbring invested a great deal of time and energy to remodel the building and make it the welcoming community gathering place it eventually became.
Some were doubtful that Mesenbring could make it a success. “I remember a good friend in Grand Marais, one of the real estate agents I knew from my time working at the bank, telling me that I was ‘nuts’ for opening a business in Hovland. I am so glad that he was wrong!” said Mesenbring.
In August of 2012, Mesenbring signed a contract with Dave and Rebecca Keller for their future purchase of the business. Much to her disappointment, the sale recently fell through. “I sold the business because I felt someone else could do the job better than I could. Maybe I will just have to do a better job this time around,” said Mesenbring.
During her time away from the business, Mesenbring worked for Cook County Towing, owned by Pam and Paul James. “I operated tow trucks for the past year and a half and enjoyed it thoroughly,” said Mesenbring.
She plans to continue to operate the trucks during the winter months, as Chicago Bay Marketplace will be open on a limited basis in the off-season.
Mesenbring said she was pleased that former employees Sandy Bockovich and Julie Kean will be returning. “Sandy and Julie will be an important part of the business, as employees and as well-loved friends,” she said.
The women—the “CBM crew”—have been working for the past five weeks during the temporary closure to refresh and improve the flow of business, make necessary repairs, clean the facility thoroughly, and choose new inventory.
There are a few changes to the menu, with an emphasis on quick sandwiches at lunch time and on pizzas, including the signature Chicago Bay homemade pizzas, in the evening. The ever-popular cinnamon rolls, brownies and pies will be available, made fresh, as well as homemade breads.
Lonely Blonde beer will be offered on tap, due to the local connection with Ben and Mary Petz of Hovland, whose son Ryan is one of the owners of the brewery in the Twin Cities. Other tap offerings include Reed’s Apple Ale, Shell’s Deer Brand original, and 1919 Root Beer.
“I had no plans to return to the business,” said Mesenbring, “but I find myself looking forward to the community of friends that Chicago Bay Marketplace means to so many people, including myself. We also look forward to expanding our customer base. The business was built on quality relationships, around products which use premium ingredients, in a casual atmosphere. Instead of letting the building stand vacant, it was important to me to continue, and improve, the now traditional community gathering place. I am grateful to members of the community for their support.”
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