Bobcat Bonnie’s announced they’re closing the doors of their Ferndale location. This makes their spot in Lansing the last Bobcat Bonnie’s standing.
The bar and restaurant announced the news on their social media channels Sunday night. They will be open for a final time June 2 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. — or earlier if they run out of food. Drinks will be $5, with food selling at normal prices. Bobcat Bonnie’s will be liquidating furniture and furnishings from the restaurant on Tuesday.
“Coming to you with some bittersweet news — but after tomorrow (Monday) Bobcat Bonnie’s Ferndale will be closed,” the June 1 post read. “I’ll keep this short and sweet — we have LOVED being a part of this community. And we are so excited to have another AMAZING operator taking over the space (in due time!)”
The message follows a separate post last week saying they were looking for a financial partner to help stabilize their operations.
Known for their brunch and Bloody Mary bar, Bobcat Bonnie’s first opened the Ferndale location in 2018. Owner Matt Buskard has been candid about the difficulties operating his restaurants. Bobcat Bonnie’s flagship location in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood closed in March after a decade of operation. As the Detroit Free Press reports, additional closures included Wyandotte in January, as well as Clinton Township and Ypsilanti in 2024. The fate of the Bobcat Bonnie’s in Grand Rapids remains unknown after a temporary closure.
Buskard also faced setbacks outside of Bobcat Bonnie’s.
After acquiring the beloved Fly Trap in Ferndale in 2022, he sold it back to original owners Kara and Gavin McMillian last fall. Buskard opened Scout Vester in the former M-Brew building in August, but that shuttered by the end of 2024.
Bobcat Bonnie’s also faced an employee strike last October after the closure of the Ypsilanti location. Bobcat United members picketed in front of the Ferndale location, accusing Buskard of being a union buster and ignoring their concerns of poor management and bounced checks. The two sides reached a settlement shortly after.
Ferndale Radio is an independent community radio station located inside the Rust Belt Market at the heart of downtown Ferndale. Consider making a tax-deductible gift at ferndaleradio.com/donate.
