The City of Dowagiac is showing just how much Zeke’s Restaurant means as they’ve purchased the property themselves. Officials with the city say it was in the best interest of the community to purchase the property, equipment, and liquor license to save the restaurant from the auction block.

The city has no intention to try and run the restaurant themselves but instead is taking control of sales process as they look for someone to take it over. Back in January it abruptly closed with no warning, the only indication of why came with its original real estate listing where it said the owner was retiring.

The restaurant has been in Dowagiac for 30 years. It’s not known exactly how much the city in the transaction.