In a groundbreaking, multi-faceted investment to bring value to a bunch community, FireKeepers Casino Hotel is happy to announce a brand new initiative, with the logo for the project being a Hub, as there are lots of positive spokes surrounding this location. A PROPER name and logo might be announced within the near future. A PRIMARY of its kind non-profit hands-on investment by a casino operator will blend a restaurant with large gardens to grow food for local schools and a food pantry to assist those less fortunate.

In April, 2016, FireKeepers Casino Hotel and its owners, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi purchased and took possession of fireplace Station #4 located at the corner of Kendall and Dickman in Battle Creek. The hearth Station transformation should begin in a couple of weeks, with a goal to open this fall.

The Hub’s concept was the vision of Michael McFarlen, vp of food and beverage at FireKeepers Casino Hotel and a 2015 Governor’s Service Award finalist for the state of Michigan. The Hub will contain various “spokes” of a business, including a restaurant with array of sandwiches, thin crust pizza and desserts, an artisan bakery with a wide selection of baked good and far needed downtown meeting space.

The most significant goal is to offer back to the community. The project will accomplish this goal via multiple programs. First, the rear element of the building will house a food pantry at the side of the Food Bank of South Central Michigan, distributing food from shelves to these less fortunate. Secondly, farmable land adjacent to the building might be cultivated and Hoop Houses purchased to grow food, with a goal of providing a free salad bar for downtown schools in Battle Creek! Third is the creation of a fund to support local charities, with 80 percent of all restaurant profits and an allocation of fifty cents from every restaurant check providing the monies. The remainder 20 percent of profits could be reinvested within the property.

“The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Pottawatomi is thrilled to be desirous about this amazing community initiative,” states NHBP tribal council chairman, Jamie Stuck. “We can deliver the region’s best casino resort product while simultaneously do something about improving the lives of local residents. Supporting the area people is often a goal for us and Chef Michael McFarlen deserves credit for developing the concept”

The location is the fireplace Station #4, located at Kendall and Dickman streets in Battle Creek. This hearth station, which opened in July 1904, was designed by Hubert C. Scofield and was probably the most last to still use horse-drawn equipment. After nearly eighty years of service the fireplace station closed in January of 1983. The town later sold the hearth station to a personal resident who made it his home of over 25 years and assisted in its restoration over that point period. Within the fall of 2015, the building went up on the market and the FireKeepers team immediately saw its potential. The plan is to continue the restoration process and produce it back to its turn of the century glory.

“The project goes to offer something amazing for the community, including a Restaurant/Bakery, food pantry and far more,” states vice chairman of food and beverage and executive chef at FireKeepers, chef Michael McFarlen. “This initiative creates multiple different avenues for FireKeepers to enhance lives and create culinary options in downtown Battle Creek. We're all really fascinated with this new endeavor and eagerly anticipate the beginning of construction within the coming weeks.”

Read More... [Source: Gaming Industry News]