The City of Escanaba Planning Commission has conditionally approved plans to transform the long-dormant Hudson’s Classic Grill property into the 11th location of The Fire Station marijuana retailer. This development follows years of delays triggered by community opposition, traffic concerns, and expired permits. The approval marks a potential revival for the site at 201 N. Lincoln Rd., signaling marijuana retail's expanding footprint in Michigan's Upper Peninsula amid evolving local attitudes.
Years of Stalled Progress and Neighborhood Resistance
Hudson’s Classic Grill closed and sold the property in October 2022, leaving the building vacant for over two years. S&W Real Estate, affiliated with The Fire Station LLC of Marquette, acquired it with intentions to open a dispensary. Early hurdles emerged in November 2022 during a public hearing on a special land use permit, where Delta Plaza Mall operator DP Management voiced fears of losing Hobby Lobby as a tenant.
Hobby Lobby's vice president of real estate, Randy Childers, wrote to the city that the chain avoids "second- or third-class operators" like cannabis businesses, arguing such tenants degrade center quality and drive away national retailers. At the time, Escanaba had no off-tribal dispensaries, heightening local sensitivities. These objections reflected broader tensions in communities balancing economic development with traditional retail anchors.
Traffic Challenges and Iterative Site Solutions
Parking and access issues compounded the delays. The site's sole entry relied on an expired easement through the mall lot, and The Fire Station failed to negotiate a new one. City officials worried about worsening traffic on North Lincoln Road, prompting a 2023 traffic impact study by Fishbeck.
The study proposed two viable options: a one-way, one-lane pattern with entry from 1st Avenue North, or a single bidirectional access from Lincoln Road. Michigan Department of Transportation rejected the latter. A July 2023 city approval for the site plan and permit lapsed due to unrelated delays in The Fire Station's Menominee project, as explained in an April 2025 letter to the city.
New Plan Wins Conditional Nod Amid Declining Dispensary Crowds
On May 8, 2025, the Planning Commission approved a refreshed special land use permit and site plan mirroring Fishbeck's preferred one-way design: entry on 1st Avenue North, clockwise flow, and exit onto Lincoln Road restricted to right turns via a curb cut. The building footprint matches the original Hudson’s size, avoiding prior downsizing proposals.
Co-CEO Stosh Wasik assured commissioners that traffic at dispensaries has eased as more outlets open near the Wisconsin border, drawing customers southward. The Fire Station, co-led by Wasik and Logan Stauber, operates 10 Upper Peninsula locations from Hannahville to Sault Ste. Marie and earns praise for employee benefits and flexibility. Chief Marketing Officer Kelsey Potes offered no timeline but affirmed ongoing due diligence, underscoring the company's aim to act as a responsible neighbor.
This approval highlights marijuana retail's maturation in northern Michigan, where initial backlash yields to practical accommodations and market normalization, potentially spurring activity at a neglected commercial corner.
