The Brownstone Inn Changes Ownership

A popular restaurant in Au Train has new owners after more than three decades.

From left: Tom and Ana Dolaskie and Deb Molitor and Jeff Van Bremen

Known for its eclectic atmosphere and a menu that features local ingredients, Deb Molitor and Jeff Van Bremen recently sold the Brownstone Inn to Tom and Ana Dolaskie of Munising. While there’ll be a few basic changes, customers can still expect great service and a wonderful experience.

Molitor and Van Bremen fell in love with the building when they first saw it in 1989 while searching for a place to raise their family and a restaurant to purchase. At that point, it had been closed for two years.

The couple purchased the restaurant two years later becoming the fifth owners of the establishment. Since it was shutdown for some time, the building underwent a renovation before opening later that year.

According to a brochure celebrating the Brownstone’s 27th anniversary, the buildings, which consist of the restaurant and several cabins on the property, were constructed in 1946 by Ed Niemi, an Alger County builder, for Clark Haskins, a retired Detroit police officer and gold medal Olympic boxing champion. The stone masonry was done by Bacco Vadnals of Munising while Cyril Bark of Chatham milled the half-logs that form the canopies and cabins.

“We understand that most, if not all, of the materials used in the construction were locally harvested or salvaged,” the brochure reads.

The pine paneling came from Chatham, while stone was brought from the beach. Steel beams and metal frame windows were supposedly salvaged from the demolition of a plant in Munising. The mahogany wainscot has generated much interest and seems most likely to be scrap from the Kingsford veneer mill which was said to produce gliders for the Normandy landing during World War II, according to the brochure.

“A visitor informed us that there are no mahogany trees of that large size left in the world today. Even the whole log furniture in the dining room is vintage, hand-crafted by Rittenhouse of Cheboygan, Michigan,” Molitor stated.

“The Haskins operated both the inn and restaurant. All later owners used the inn as a large family apartment. The upstairs has become our Onota Room, providing a private space for celebrations and meetings. The best stories, by far, are the personal remembrance people so generously share with us. Seventy years can generate a colorful collection of romance and silliness, superstition, and wisdom. We have been fortunate to have people share a wealth of facts, fictions, and fantasies about the Brownstone Inn.”

The Brownstone Inn is located at E 4635 W. M-28, Au Train. Keep an eye on the restaurant’s Facebook page for updates.