DETROIT – After a decade of operation, Bobcat Bonnies has closed its flagship location in Detroit’s Corktown.
Bobcat Bonnies opened its restaurant in 2015, but with the news of an immediate closure on Tuesday (March 4) afternoon.
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Bobcat Bonnie’s owner, Matthew Buskard, took to Facebook with the sad news of the closure.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the closure of our original Bobcat Bonnie’s in Corktown. After almost a decade of service, we have had to make the toughest decision to close this location. Over the years, we have proudly served the downtown community and Detroit’s Oldest Neighborhood-Corktown.
We have seen Tiger’s Stadium go from a lot to an amazing facility with PAL. We’ve seen vacant buildings turn into hotels, apartments, and cool businesses! And most importantly we’ve seen the outstanding transformation of the train station.
This decision is heartbreaking, but we must make one based on where things are currently in the economy. It seems like daily we hear or read of a new place closing, or “rebranding,” or selling. We have been inundated with news stories on how many small businesses (and some large) have decided to move on, and it breaks our hearts losing these unique, community-supporting small businesses.
It can feel tough thinking that we survived the pandemic only to never really be able to recover over the longer term. Truly, this is never the situation I foresaw us ever being in, but this is where many of us are at."
The restaurant, which once boasted multiple Michigan locations, has now been downsized to two locations in Ferndale and Lansing, which Buskard offered Corktown employees jobs."
Bobcat Bonnie's owner Matt Buskard
Their Wyandotte, Ypsilanti, Clinton Township, and Grand Rapids locations closed recently.
According to Buskard’s Facebook post, the Corktown location referred to monetary reasonings for the recent closures.
“It’s been a really rough few months for a lot of us out there, so as you choose where to spend your dollars, please I beg of you, choose to spend them locally.
I know our dollars are so precious right now, we are all feeling the pinch, so where you choose to spend them is so important now more than ever.
Small businesses right now are all working overtime to try and win your dollar, so be conscious of who you’re choosing to spend those valuable dollars with.”
Bobcat Bonnie's owner Matt Buskard
Last year, Bobcat Bonnie’s staff reached a settlement after an employee strike occurred at its Ferndale location.
Bobcat United members demanded answers during an Oct. 17 night strike outside their Ferndale location, and their demands were heard.
“Now that the picketing has concluded at the Bobcat Bonnie’s Ferndale location and we have an agreement, I want to thank the Bobcat United group for keeping things civil and professional while we negotiated a severance package for the impacted Ypsilanti workers.
Going forward, the management team and I are dedicated to listening to all of our employees as we work together to create a fun and inviting dining experience for our guests.
I am looking forward to implementing quite a few changes across the board at Bobcat Bonnie’s restaurants, effective immediately. Your feedback will be very important to me.
Please come have a meal soon at Bobcat Bonnie’s in Corktown, Ferndale, Grand Rapids, Wyandotte, and Lansing so that you can meet our team where they are happiest -- on the job and making money.”
Bobcat Bonnie's owner Matt Buskard
Members of Bobcat United were frustrated by what had happened inside the Ypsilanti location on Oct. 16, 2024. This included problems with management and bounced checks.
The restaurant had temporarily closed, causing an uproar, but Local 4 informed employees for the first time that the Ypsilanti location was closing for good, and they were all out of jobs.
Although Tuesday’s decision and the recent closures have saddened the community, Buskard thanked everyone for their decade of love and support.
“Thank you all for the decade of love, laughter, tears and support. You mean the world to us. Thank you for changing so many of our lives. PS- I am still sorry for the vegan meatloaf attempt on our 2nd menu,” said Buskard.
