News Photo by Mike Gonzalez Eric Peterson, owner and chef of The Fresh Palate based in the Alpena Center Building, stands in front of the restaurant’s sign in its kitchen on Monday.

ALPENA — The Fresh Palate, a restaurant based in the Alpena Center Building that prides itself in its organic and healthy meals, is closing its doors on the 15th anniversary of its opening, March 30.

Eric Peterson, owner and chef of the restaurant, said that his driving force with The Fresh Palate was to create a new property to help boost Alpena’s tourist economy. He said that after 15 years, it was time to move to a new plan.

“It’s premature to share any information, but I am going to stick around Alpena and I’m going to help develop some new properties,” Peterson said. “I’ve taken The Fresh Palate as far as it can take Alpena, so now I have to shift some more to create more development and support for the locals. So, this door must be closed so that I can move on with my life and become the person I know I am capable of becoming as a human being.”

At the beginning of January, The Fresh Palate’s accompanying bar and dining space, the Nucleus Lounge, was closed by Peterson, and The Fresh Palate’s hours were reduced to exclusively breakfast and lunch times to shut down the business and release employees at a steady rate.

Peterson said that he let his employees know about the eventual closure as early as he could and helped others to move to other businesses in town.

“That’s why I let go of the Nucleus first, so I could size down and give people the opportunity to stay or move on,” Peterson said. “I’ve been open-sourced with my employees and helped them get new jobs as a reference. As a person who’s well known in Alpena, it’s easy for me to call somebody up and say that this person needs a job and you should hire them. Everybody’s in their own sadness for change, but I believe that that’s what gives us our humanity – the ability to have emotion and to work through all things.”

Peterson said he doesn’t want this to be sad news, as he believes this transition to be a beautiful instance that is meant to happen.

“I mean, 15 years to the date. That’s pretty awesome,” Peterson said. “You’ve got to look at that and think that’s a beautiful chapter … I feel that my impact has run its course. The lack of Fresh Palate is not here to impact the downtown economy in any way, but to offer new opportunities for growth and expansion.”

Karen Bennett, owner of the Center Building, said in a statement that she appreciates all that Peterson has done to bring The Fresh Palate and its fresh food and beverages to Alpena.

A list of potential business ideas for the space is available on the Center Building’s Facebook page, with Bennett encouraging others to add to the list.

“Some of the ideas that come to mind are a distillery, a bakery, a sweet shop, a tapas restaurant offering small, shareable plates, a craft cocktail bar, a great breakfast and lunch place, and more,” Bennett said in a statement. “We would love to welcome and support new business ideas, especially those that involve food and beverage. We would hope to continue that synergy and to take advantage of the fully equipped kitchen, liquor license, and outdoor space,”

Anne Gentry, director of Alpena Downtown Development Authority, shared similar thoughts, saying in a press release that the DDA would like to support any interested parties hoping to utilize the space.

Gentry said that there are many resources available for entrepreneurs, mentioning grant opportunities through programs such as the Match on Main Program and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

“We’re gearing up for an outstanding summer in Downtown Alpena–this is when the downtown truly comes alive,” Gentry said in a statement. “This summer will be even more exciting with the improvements to Culligan Plaza getting underway and the expansion of the DDA social district.”

Peterson said that he put in lots of time, love, kindness, and respect in every meal he served for the past 15 years, stating that he’s kept the motto, “Serve with love. People can taste love in their foods.”

“I just want to say thank you to Alpena for their love and support for 15 solid years,” Peterson added. “Every memory that was made here was a good one, and I’m happy to have been this human for the community for 15 solid years. I’m still human for Alpena, but now in a different mask. It’s been a blessing to have so much love and support throughout the years, and I couldn’t imagine a better, more humble community to have brought a business to.”