Psa - Theft at The Landing

[SkunkedAgain]

I don't need any sympathy, but just want to alert others that someone stole several of the roller assemblies off of my trailer while it was parked in the public lot next to The Landing. It happened two weeks ago. Hopefully nobody else loses anything but it would be important to know if there is a trend brewing.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Rotten thieves!!

Nothing is safe anymore!

The thieves have been increasing in this area every year! Have to lock every thing up and even then it is not always safe.

Cliff

[Hoey]

That is right up there with planting spring flowers around the house that were swiped from the grave yards.....

[mbeyer]

Tough to get the boat back on trailer with no roller assemblies!!!

[SkunkedAgain]

That day is was raining hard when I was landing the boat and the inspection guy was hovering over me. I must have had the trailer backed in a little deeper than usual but it loaded crooked multiple times. Finally I said F-it and pulled out. The following week I launched elsewhere and parked at someone's lake house within view. When loading that time I noticed the boat loading crooked again and also that the rollers were missing. I connected the dots. Those roller assemblies were fastened with nylon lock nuts that do not come loose and fall off on their own. Nobody could have stolen anything from it at the second lake, based on where it was parked and all of us around and within view.

Luckily I had a 9/16th wrench in my truck box and another in my boat box, and together I was able to move the remaining rollers around to compensate for the missing ones. I still had to tie lifejackets onto the empty assembly spots to keep the teetering roller arm from causing further damage to my hull. It worked and I got it back home, jacked up the boat on each side and installed new assemblies that the dealer had sitting around in a dusty box.

It was maddening to deal with it all but not terrible. I wonder if the thief only needed two sets or got scared away by a passing vehicle or customers at The Landing. Either way, hopefully others are vigilant when parking overnight there. I just parked there again last weekend and had zero issues.

Edited August 3, 2016 by SkunkedAgain

[delcecchi]

Whoever it was only needed two...

[Big V Bobcat]

What a bummer.

In reading your subject title, I thought you were referring to the "Landing" and their current business model, or lack thereof.

[SkunkedAgain]

Well that could be an entirely different thread, but since the theft of my trailer rollers is a thing of the past....I'll bite.

As a weekender, I generally feel that I know my place. We used to visit the Landing here and there when Justin and others were running it. Not bad but certainly not good either. Then Jack bought it again and you could see what a difference there is when you have an enthusiastic owner, who cares about the experience that you have there. Admittedly I haven't met the guy who bought The Landing, and don't know anything about him. However, all that I see is that he dumped in a bunch of money, jacked up the prices, and the food quality dropped - good fries though.

I like to cook so this is no big deal to me to make all of my meals at the cabin. However, on those occasions when Mrs. SkunkedAgain says that she wants to eat out, we go to either the Crescent or the other end of the lake. Since we're boat access only, neither is a great option so we generally don't eat out anymore. It's a shame because I do like to support local businesses while we are up there, but I'm not willing to pay $60 for dinner. Those are city prices and then some.

[CigarGuy]

Some friends from Babbit wanted to see the boat show a few weeks ago. We met them there and had our kids with us, we ordered 7 drinks and it came to over $50.00.  Also order a couple apps,if I remember right the wings were north of $13.00 and you had to pay extra for celery and blue cheese.  That's why I hardly ever go out up here, I went out enough when I was younger!  I do hit the Crescent when sledding and like skunked said, when the wife want a break.  The local sure boycott the place.  I did like the wing and beer special the ran a few years ago.

[delcecchi]

I have heard there is a bar menu at the Landing.  Is that true?  Anyone seen it?  

Hard to see how they stay in business.  Are there enough rich city folks in the area to support them?  We used to like to go there but haven't been for a couple of years.  

[norwaybay]

I have also stopped frequenting the Landing as I stopped at the lake bar this summer to buy a bloody mary and was charged 22.02.  I did get the plastic glass.  I am a weekender who plans to live there soon.  Prices are just way too high.  I am all for supporting the local businesses but 22.02.  OUCH.  I have heard there is a "card" you can get that reduces the prices by 20% but maybe that is heresay.  I hope the locals do get a break because it is a nice place to go when out on the lake.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

$22.02! That is crazy! No matter how much junk food that they add.

I quit drinking Bloody Marys when they went to $12.00 at most of the bars up here.

Cliff

[CigarGuy]

My kids ordered a bloody mary this summer and the price was similar, it was loaded with stuff, but 22.00 is hard to swallow!.  My neighbor has a 20% card. I'm retiring up here in a few years and will be hard to support a local establishment with those kind of prices.  I won't even get into the "fancy dinner" prices. 

[delcecchi]

I had more like a 10 dollar burger in mind.   Guess it is Crescent or South Switch for me still.   Not very scenic but good food at an acceptable price.  

And on to Virginia etc for a higher grade experience.   Want to get back to Whistling Bird in Gilbert.  Loved it last time but it has been years.    

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Great burgers at the Black Bear Cafe just South of Tower at any time!

Great price on Thursdays (burger day at around $3.50)!

Cliff

[delcecchi]

Crescent and south switch have good burgers too, and I wouldn't have to drive so far. 

[CigarGuy]

We have friends up and they wanted to take us out for dinner, via the boat.  With the wind, the only place was the landing, I tried vetoing It, but lost out.  Had $12.00 burger and fries.  Very good and the service was fast-only 8 others in the dinning area and a few at the bar.  I checked the prices on the wings-$16.00 for 1-1/2lbs.  Del, they had a pretty good burger menu.  I asked about the 20% off deal and the waiter blew me off and said he didn't know anything about it.  I asked who I should talk to, he said the manager or the owner.  We paid the bill and left without asking.  I liked it a few winters ago when they had ,25 wings and 2.00 beers.

[bassbouncer]

I'm a local and yes we boycott the place. Friends have been told that they aren't wanted there that they only want the tourist business. Wife and I boat to Wolf Bay when we go out. We live 2 miles from the landing and wish it was still run by Jack.

[delcecchi]

Thanks, cigar guy.   Might check into it next year.  Or maybe not.   They always used to have some expensive entrees but we just ignored them.   

Even 12 for a burger is sort of high for the area, but the view is worth something.   Probably stay with the Crescent.   I don't see how there are enough tourists for the landing to make it. 

[FrazerBay]

Like the food and like the menu. Like the fact there are places to eat on the lake and will continue to support them.

[bassbouncer]

Interesting headline in the Virginia newspaper this morning. The Landing is being sued by past employees for not paying minimum wage, not paying overtime, and keeping up to 50% of the employees tips that were received via credit card. 

[delcecchi]

Maybe that is how they can stay in business 

[SkunkedAgain]

Maybe there is a market out there for higher end food on Vermilion. If I were in the restaurant business and felt that way, I would probably operate that restaurant on the other end of the lake where it stands out from the competition and benefits from the higher population density and bigger cabins/wealth.

In my mind, what the west end has always wanted is a fun place to hang out, get a beer, and swap fishing tales. You don't need $20 bloody mary's to do that or $12 burgers. Most people would be happy with a Heggie's pizza, some wings, or nachos with melted cheese....accompanied by a mug of Schells/Leinie's/Bud and your occasional can or bottle of something more fancy like a Surly. No need to make this a high-end sushi joint or something that it's really not.

Those seeking a fancy meal will seek it out as necessary. The masses will just avoid the joint if it isn't to their liking.

Edited September 26, 2016 by SkunkedAgain

[delcecchi]

The crescent and south switch meet all the criteria, except for boat access.   And they even usually have some sort of craft beer on tap, like surly furious etc. 

The only place near the lake that has upscale food that I am aware of is the casino.    We try to get to the wilderness grill for lunch a time or two.   And daughter and husband will sometimes go there on date night while they are up, although the pull to the east is less now that the quilt shop in tower shut down. 

[Capt. Quicksteel]

This thread makes me glad I'm on the east end!!    Nobody has mentioned the Vermilion Club. Not fancy but we always enjoy the pizza etc

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I have never had a bad meal at the Vermilion Club!

Great pizzas, wings, steaks, etc.!

Cliff

[FrazerBay]

Have to agree..food is great..best place in the winter on snowmobile..

but..the dock situation could use a big upgrade.

[OhioVike]

My entire family loves coming up to the lake. We make it part of the routine to stop at the landing at least once per trip.  At the end of the day a few extra bucks per entree is no big deal. Our meals have always been good, service has varied with the crowds which is true everywhere up there.  Run the per pound cost on your walleye catch. The few meals a year you eat there would pale in comparison.  I hope they stay open, it is a fun part of our trips!

[Big V Bobcat]

That place is sinking faster than a boat anchor! I couldn't figure out why they were putting in so much money into it, especially since every time I'd drive by at dinner hour, there'd be at best 5 cars parked there. Always a good crowd at the Crescent of course. I don't mind the lack of view...since I'm usually on the lake most of the day already. I remember the days of Judd and Jack, and the place was lively and included the locals. Now it is mostly oblivious resort guests who see it as the only option. Very "pretentious" place that would be better suited in the Brainerd lakes area. My wife's co-worker told her that he was there this summer and they charged him $2 for a glass of water and .75 for mustard (in a stainless steel cup of course). I'd like to check out Wolf Bay, but I need a faster boat first! Don't even get me started on the $7 beers....

Edited September 27, 2016 by Big V Bobcat

[Sorgy]

Consider me in on a personal boycott of The Landing. Horrible horrible horrible customer service skills by the owners/management.

1) it is much quieter on the water without the big blasters running up an down the lake from the Landing.

2) Had a craving for wings while out fishing one night. Called ahead ordered up some wings- great taste- tiny crappy wings. Asked for a side of Blue Cheese and Celery - upcharge of like $3.00 for those. Washed it down with a bottle of Coors Light. $23.50

Large group went in one night and they usually tear up the bar. Were told they can't play jukebox until after 10 pm it was 9:40 PM- ONLY GROUP IN THE BAR.  "They are trying to build up an Ambiance"

Got their bar tab and they were done. Yearly group that dropped a lot of cash in the past. Never again until new ownership is on board.

Unfortunately they have deep pockets.

As soon as new ownership / management takes over the crowds will return.