KALAMAZOO, MI — A long-established downtown Kalamazoo staple, known for its fine dining, farm fresh, locally-sourced fare and weekend brunches, Food Dance will serve its final dishes on Saturday, April 9.
Owner Julie Stanley, who considered closing the restaurant a year ago, citing challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, sent an email to MLive Tuesday afternoon, announcing her decision to close.
Related: ‘We just didn’t have a path,’ says Food Dance owner about near closure of Kalamazoo restaurant
The East Michigan Avenue restaurant, which also survived a 2018 fire, was shut down for about a half year over the course of the pandemic and reopened in 2021 with a much leaner staff than it had in years prior.
In Stanley’s email, which has since been shared on the restaurant’s social media as well, the restauranteur wrote to the community, stating that she wanted the people of Kalamazoo and restaurant’s followers to hear the news from her directly.
Food Dancer owner Julie Stanley announced Tuesday, March 22, 2022 that she would be closing her Kalamazoo, Michigan restaurant after 28 years. The restaurant's last day of service will be Saturday, April 9. (MLive file photo)Kalamazoo Gazette
“I am ready to retire and enjoy life outside a restaurant,” Stanley wrote. “That may sound simple, but the decision to close Food Dance has been anything but simple. I care (and worry) about the staff, our loyal farmers, vendors and about the community.
“I find peace in knowing that for the last 28 years Food Dance has been a cornerstone in Kalamazoo and helped to create space for many local food businesses, helped support the growth of our local food system, and helped build an awareness of ‘eating well’ in the community.
Stanley stated that it has been an honor to be a part of Kalamazoo and that she is both grateful and humbled when she thinks back on staff members and hears their stories about how working at Food Dance impacted their lives. She said she is equally grateful to hear stories from guests of what the restaurant has meant.
She said she hopes people will comin over the next three weeks to “celebrate food, friends, and family together” and that after the restaurant closes, that patrons will continue to seek out and support local, independent restaurants and businesses.
Stanley closed her letter to the community by stating: “Myself and the amazing staff thank you for all your support. From the bottom of my heart. -Julie.”
Also on MLive:
Bell’s Brewery looks toward future under local leadership and New Belgium partnership
Kalamazoo City Attorney Clyde Robinson announces retirement
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March 23, 2022 at 01:44AM
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