Back From the Dead – Shuttered Cadillac Restaurant to Reopen with New Concept

A longtime waterfront restaurant in Cadillac, Mich., is making a return to its roots.

Dockside Inn in Cadillac had a tough start, opening in 2020 during the pandemic. Previously the building had been home to Marina Ristorante, an Italian eatery that first opened in 1959.

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The fine dining restaurant overlooked Lake Cadillac. At the end of 2023, Dockside Inn announced it would be closing temporarily for the season, citing a lack winter tourism.

In April 2024, however, an announcement on social media shared news of Dockside Inn's permanent closure:

With immense sorrow, we regret to inform you that Dockside Inn will not be reopening for the 2024 season and beyond. From deep in our hearts, we would like to thank you for supporting Dockside Inn and our staff over the years. It has been an incredibly amazing journey.

Now the eatery is set to make a comeback, with a new concept! The restaurant is reopening with a "fresh twist" as Nonni's Italian Kitchen.  Owners say their goal is to create a family-friendly, affordable, relaxing dining experience, with high-quality Italian food.

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Michael Blackmer, a partner with Dockside Inn, tells 9&10 News he felt an Italian restaurant was something Cadillac needed:

Everybody keeps saying, you know, by looking at social media, when is there going to be an Italian restaurant? So that restaurant is just sitting there, it’s ready to go. And you can’t make anything from it, from being empty. I got to thinking, ‘Okay, maybe I should try a little Italian.

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Nonni’s Italian Kitchen at Dockside Inn is set to open in early May. Follow the restaurant on Facebook for updates.