ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Thursday, June 15, a historic restaurant and bar in Downtown Esanaba reopened its doors for the first time in a year.
Built in the 1860s, the House of Ludington is one of Michigan’s oldest hotels, according to current curator and director of operations Kevin Chown.
The restaurant and bar closed in May of 2022. Chown took over operations in January.
Over the last six months, Chown says he and his team have worked hard to renovate and update the building while still preserving its history.
“People have gotten engaged here, there’s been weddings here,” said Chown. “All of these memorable experiences for generations and generations of people that live in Escanaba. To bring this place back to life in order to create new memories has always been my goal.”
A musician himself, Chown is also excited to regularly bring live music back to the bar.
“The House of Ludington is known for its food, but also for its music,” he said. “As a kid, I used to come and see big bands here, so part of it for me is creating a music venue here. The House of Ludington gives me an amazing opportunity to bring my friends from all over the world to my hometown to play some gigs together. It’s nice to pick up a torch, run with it, and put my own spin on it.”
Due to an enthusiastic response from the community, tables at the House of Ludington are only available by reservation at this time. To book a reservation, visit the House of Ludington’s website or Facebook page or call (906) 786-6300.
While the hotel is undergoing renovations, it is still operational. Chown and his team are going room by room to get each one up to date.
