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    Why Bobcat Bonnie's operations in Ypsilanti have been temporarily suspended
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    Why Bobcat Bonnie's operations in Ypsilanti have been temporarily suspended

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    2 minutes, 6 seconds Read

    Bobcat Bonnie's Gastropub, considered “your neighborhood joint” with more than half a dozen locations in the Detroit area, has temporarily suspended operations at its Ypsilanti location.

    In a post to employees on a company page that was shared on social media, Matthew Buskard, owner of Bobcat Bonnie, announced operations at the 200 W. Michigan Ave. location. in downtown Ypsilanti after last Sunday's service will be temporarily halted.

    Operations in the restaurant's basement, Keystone Bar & Arcade, are also temporarily suspended and all events have been canceled.

    The cessation of operations at the Ypsilanti location comes as a group of employees attempts to organize to fight for better working conditions and resolve pay issues.

    In the post addressed to Ypsi Friends announcing the temporary suspension, Buskard wrote: “We will take action to address the concerns you have raised regarding appropriate and/or harassing behavior.”

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    Buskard added that they want to “ensure that this is done legally” and that they are using the time to “arrange times to listen to your thoughts, concerns and experiences and discuss other aspects of the operation.”

    “We are evaluating our Ypsi site and are committed to taking the time necessary to make informed decisions,” Buskard said in a text message to the Free Press.

    A group of Bobcat Bonnie employees said they submitted a petition to the company's headquarters outlining their concerns and demands, including questions about payroll, scheduling and training.

    A statement from Bobcats United said:

    “We are organizing for better conditions at Bobcat Bonnie's and to resolve ongoing issues that the company has ignored for months (and in some cases even years).”

    “Ultimately, all we care about is that our voices are heard,” the statement said. “As individual employees, we are powerless against our employers. But when we come together, we can make real, substantive change in our workplaces and beyond. …

    “We are service industry workers fighting for better conditions.”

    Buskard opened the first Bobcat Bonnie's on Michigan Avenue in Corktown almost 10 years ago. He expanded the restaurant, known for its hip and colorful venue, to seven locations in Michigan. Others are in Ferndale, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Wyandotte and Ypsilanti.

    Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: [email protected]. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.

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