Kohl’s, Menards, Qdoba Mexican Grill and IHOP have all made a home in Mount Pleasant in the past year.

But some small independent businesses that have been established in Mount Pleasant for years are struggling to compete with corporate franchises.

The Embers Restaurant, 1217 S. Mission St., will close June 30 after 49 years of serving the community. The Sweet Onion Restaurant also closed its doors last summer.

Jeff Tuma, Mount Pleasant resident and The Embers owner, said the reactions he has received from the community about closing have been incredible.

“It’s been overwhelming,” he said. “Everyone in the community understands this is a piece of Mount Pleasant that is gone forever.”

The moving of corporate franchises into the Mount Pleasant area has increased in the past year.

Kohl’s, 4855 Encore Blvd., opened in October with IHOP, 5245 E. Pickard St., following close behind. Qdoba, 1529 S. Mission St., began serving the area in February. Shortly after, Sam’s Club and Menard’s joined the community on Encore Boulevard.

Tuma said the trend of small businesses moving out and corporate franchises moving in is not good for the city.

Small businesses or companies of 500 or fewer employees make up half of all private employment in the U.S., according to the National Federation of Independent Business.

“Small independent businesses are bad for communities to lose,” Tuma said. “The American economy was built on businesses like these, and for any city to lose the entrepreneurial society is a lot.”

The main reason businesses like The Embers and The Sweet Onion are moving out is because they have a hard time competing with the major corporations when it comes to advertising dollars, Tuma said.

Belleville senior Rosemary Scianna said she was surprised when she heard the Embers would close.

“With businesses like The Embers closing, it takes away from the roots of the city,” she said. “The small businesses are what made this college town different than others. It’s really sad to see them go.”

Other reactions

Stanley’s Famous Restaurant, 220 E. Broadway St., has been in Mount Pleasant for 50 or more years.

Tammy Germain, owner and Mount Pleasant resident, said she is thankful she does not have to compete for a dinner crowd because the restaurant only serves breakfast and lunch.

“We’ve been around so long that we not only have good food and service, but it’s the atmosphere that attracts the customers,” she said. “We have loyal customers and serve a good, quality meal for the price.”

Competition is not the only thing that weighs in to the change of pace for businesses. The state of the Michigan economy also has been a strain on smaller businesses, Germain said.

“You can definitely tell a difference in the town,” she said. “But we have a generation that knows we are good.”

Larrabee’s Family Restaurant, 105 E. Broadway St., has been in town for about a year, and owner Ryan Larrabee said he is not anticipating trouble because of the larger businesses.

“We are doing OK,” Larrabee, the Beal City resident said. “Business is doing well and we plan to stay downtown for a long time.”

kmaurer@cm-life.com

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