BY SCOTT SULLIVAN EDITOR
Add Bistro 44 to the list of eateries that didn’t last long at 8 Center St. in Douglas.
The eatery, owned by local residents Heather Reyes and husband Tino, announced its closure downtown Jan. 20.
“We want to thank everyone for allowing us to serve you these past couple years,” the couple said on their Facebook page. “It has been our pleasure to be a part of your community. We have a place in our heart for each of you.
“We have enjoyed talking with our regulars and meeting new friends. It is with a very heavy heart that we will be closing our doors in Douglas,” they continued.
“We did not make this decision lightly. It is not without tears and many discussions. We gave it everything we had and did all we could to continue in Douglas.
“This is not the end of Bistro 44, but rather an opportunity for growth. We believe when one door closes others open, and we have faith in what is to come. We are actively looking for our new location.
“We will update you, when we know where this path leads us,” Heather and Tino Reyes said.
Bistro 44 specialized in made-from-scratch American comfort food and Mexican cuisine during breakfast and lunchtime hours. It did not have a liquor license.
They Reyeses opened on Center last March after starting a few months prior, operating out of a commercial kitchen and focusing on grab-and-go meals.
Heather has been in the restaurant industry for more than three decades, going from dishwasher to executive chef to opening manager. Tino is a 29-year Douglas policeman who wears Badge 44, hence the restaurant’s name. Both have been active in downtown business affairs.
Before Bistro 44, Fennville-based Kismet Bakery operated out of 8 Center St., preceded by Center Street Bistro and an Italian restaurant, none for more than two years ago. Chaps Restaurant occupied the expansive downtown space for several years prior to them.
They Reyeses are looking for a new location where business is less seasonal and they can acquire a liquor license.