Northwestern Michigan College has cancelled the spring opening of Lobdell’s -- the teaching restaurant that is part of its Great Lakes Culinary Institute -- due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Culinary Institute Executive Director Les Eckert said in a press release the cancellation is due to current statewide restaurant restrictions and ongoing concerns for the safety of students, faculty, staff and guests as cases in northwest Michigan continue to climb.

“We are saddened to lose this semester at Lobdell’s, but know that this is the right decision, consistent with NMC’s overarching goal of keeping students and employees safe,” Eckert said. “I am so proud of the way the college community has found new ways to meet the needs of our learners during the pandemic. We remain dedicated to their success, even if we need to make adjustments along the way to keep everyone safe." 

By order of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, restaurants in the state have been closed for indoor service since Nov. 18, 2020. That closure has been extended twice, on Dec. 7 and again on Dec. 18. 

Located on NMC’s Great Lakes Campus just east of downtown Traverse City, Lobdell’s typically offers lunch service three days per week in the fall and spring semesters. In the summer it functions as a bakery cafe, serving coffee and pastries three mornings per week.

“As of now, we look forward to being fully operational for Cafe Lobdell's in the summer and Lobdell's lunches in the fall,” Eckert said.