Maureen Wallenfang
Post Crescent
Published 8:15 AM EST Feb 14, 2020
Four vacant or idled properties in the Fox Cities have been the subject of speculation.
Several projects announced months or years ago appear stalled. Will they come to fruition?
In some cases no. In another, yes.
And a golf course’s ultimate fate, it turns out, will be in the hands of its next owner.
Whatever happened to Blaze Pizza?
Blaze Pizza was originally supposed to open in October, but its proposed site remains a vacant patch of land.
The fast-serve pizza business was slated to go into a multi-tenant building at the busy corner of College Avenue and North Mall Drive, which is at the southern approach to the Fox River Mall.
Blaze franchisee Dianne Mayer now says she’s pulling the plug.
“I think the deal is not going to happen,” she said. “We decided not to come to that area at this time.”
She declined to give more specifics on why the plan was scuttled.
“We’re going to continue to focus on Culver’s and not pursue Blaze at this time,” she said. She owns nine Culver’s restaurants in Green Bay, Ripon, Arizona and Michigan.
“While we are sorry the initial interest didn’t come to fruition, we’re actively seeking a new franchise partner to develop the area,” said Josh Levitt, spokesman for Blaze Pizza’s corporate office.
The corner where Blaze was supposed to land had been an Anchor Bank site. Developer Bob Gregorski bought the property in 2015 and tore down the bank building in 2016. The site has remained empty since then. He did not return a call asking for comment.
Mid-America Group’s website offers spaces for lease in a “new multi-tenant shopping center” at that corner. A sign on the property promotes the site as a “development opportunity.”
Whatever happened to the Sherwood Forest Golf Course?
Sherwood Forest Golf Course is a nine-hole public course at N580 Robinhood Drive in Sherwood.
The 75-acre property went into foreclosure last year, and will be put up for public auction March 18 at the Calumet County Sheriff’s Department in Chilton, according to a sale notice filed this week.
Byline Bank had gotten a foreclosure judgment against golf course owner Jason Lemanski, and the amount owed was $570,188, according to Calumet County’s circuit court records.
Some regular golfers hope a new buyer will still operate the property as a golf course and up its game.
“When Jason took over four or five years ago, he did a fantastic job with the greens,” said Fox Crossing resident Bert Arfstrom, who golfed the course weekly with his buddies. “This past season, I noticed the lack of maintenance on the course. Jason took on the duties behind the desk. The business and golf course when downhill after that.”
Whatever happened to GrandStay in Kaukauna?
Leines Development made an agreement with the city of Kaukauna in summer 2018 that it would build a GrandStay Hotel at 222 Lawe St., a vacant parcel of land that residents remember as a long-ago Gustman car lot. It was supposed to be an upscale, three-story, 60-room hotel.
The site is part of the city’s tax incremental financing district. The city purchased the property with the intention of turning it over to the hotel developer for $1. The common council approved the contract, but that appears to be as far as it got.
“The city had a contract that expired,” said Bob Jakel, director of planning and community development. “The property is available.”
Ted Leines, principal of Leines Development, did not return a call asking for comment. Executives at GrandStay Hospitality, the franchisor, declined to comment.
Note that GrandStay has an existing hotel near the Fox River Mall that is separately owned and operated.
Whatever happened to Kwik Trip at CE and HH?
Kwik Trip announced more than a year ago that it planned to build a gas station/convenience store at the roundabout at County CE and County HH/Debruin Road.
While some refer to that area as Kaukauna or Buchanan, it’s technically Combined Locks.
Kwik Trip has now set a timeline for that site.
“The construction start date is March 9,” said spokesman John McHugh. “It’s scheduled to be complete on July 24.”
Contact reporter Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or mwallenfang@postcrescent.com. Follow her on Twitter at @wallenfang.
More: The Buzz: Kimberly’s closed Hong Kong Buffet to reopen as Pho Papa
More: The Buzz: What will happen to Macy’s in the Fox River Mall?
More: The Buzz: Catching up on store, business closures
Let’s block ads! (Why?)