Business & Tech

Jake's BBQ Shack Closes, Owner Files Bankruptcy

The Dexter restaurant closed its doors abruptly on July 26 citing lack of sales in the community.

, located at 8050 Main St. in downtown Dexter, has closed its doors indefinitely.

According to Village Manager Donna Dettling, the restaurant closed on July 26 and owner Bart Aniolczyk has since filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

"He didn't notify the village properly that he was closing, so we found out the hard way," Dettling said.

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She said the village contacted Aniolczyk in August after a sign was placed on the restaurant door indicating it had closed.

"He basically indicated to us that he wasn't making any money and that he wasn't coming back," Dettling said.

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Attempts to contact Aniolczyk were unsuccessful, however, a message on the restaurant's Facebook page reads: "Well that's all folks. We tried to hang on till at least Dexter Daze, but I think the whole town went out on vacation this month.

"I have no doubt the barbecue was one of a kind and the town needed something like this, but we are working on some distribution options, so you may see Jake's BBQ yet again some day. Thanks so much for all your support!"

Aniolczyk ' in September 2011 and transformed it into a Polish-style restaurant specializing in takeout lunch and dinner specials. The restaurant closed, however, in March to remodel and revamp the menu.

Dettling said there are currently no plans to lease the building — which the village owns — to another tenant.

"Right now we can't do anything until the end of September because of the bankruptcy filing," she said. "The Dexter Village Council is looking at turning the facility into public restrooms because its not working out, for whatever reason, as a leasing arrangement."

Dettling said there is no timetable for the potential project, however she plans to bring a preliminary discussion before the council at its Sept. 10 meeting.

"The biggest issue will be the cost if the council decides to pull the trigger on public restrooms. A construction project on that building is not currently budgeted for," she said.


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