OUR PLACE
Fat Cats is closed.
Not only is it closed, but it has also been purchased. Mag Pie’s Pen and Den will be renovating and reopening it. The look and feel of that section of Lake Geneva will have a different feel and a classier look. Not everyone is happy about the change. There are certain locals who really enjoyed Fat Cats and considered it their little piece of the city they called home. Locals share the city almost all year long and when there is a lull in visitors the locals secretly celebrate having the city to themselves. Well, that’s what Fat Cats was to many so for that some are in mourning. There is another group of people who are very pleased to have the place cleaned up and trouble toned down. Recently another storefront nearby that sat empty, and was an eyesore, was purchased and reopened. The neighboring businesses were overjoyed. Little by little new life is coming to this block of Broad Street. However, you look at it, change is inevitable and Broad Street is going to see some change.
The parking nightmare that is not going to go away.
Lake Geneva’s parking spots are suddenly open all over the place during weekend ($4.00 an hour parking rates kick in on Friday mornings until Sunday evenings) periods. The reason those slots are now open, about half of them on Main and Broad Streets is still unclear, as this new high rate of parking and violation fees really kicks in. There have been three major storms blasting down upon the Lake Geneva area over the course of the last few weeks. Is the weather the problem? Is the parking charge the problem? Is there any problem at all, because it sure seems like the people are responding to the increased parking rates. They are not responding nicely at all, however!
Dick Malmin, the man living on Geneva Lake who never says no when someone, anyone, calls to get that vital element in life.
Dick Malmin, activist
This man who never says no doesn’t have to be what he’s become, a tireless supporter of almost all those around him. He lives on the shore of Geneva Lake, which says a lot about the fact that he really doesn’t have to bother to help anyone. But there he is, in everyemergency, large and small, and never himself picking up the phone to call with his own problems. Extraordinary. His community involvement and support, whether in Town of Linn, Lake Geneva or Walworth County is ever ongoing and his presence consistently felt. His positions are solid and well-studied. The entire Geneva Lake area is highly benefited with his ‘anchor-like’ presence and open contributions.
I have always my cynicism and about the dissonance culture of parking and more perversely — when we are penalizing visitors with tickets just so to “generate” revenues for the city — If that is the case, if ever “guillotine” will be used to penalize stronger case of parking offenders — let us set that fee to be US $1000 dollars — I am sure this will be supported by the most amoral bureaucrats in this system — the ugliest form of capitalism with greed 🙂
Well, that is definitely an interesting concept. Thanks for your input
There are some spots that are free for an hour to park and then pay after that. I stopped in to a cafe to meet up for a coffee with a friend and I wasn’t parked for more than 30 minutes and I got a $75 dollar ticket. If the cops are going to patrol. Then patrol not just give out tickets to people who are locals and run in to a shop.
Fat Cats is an iconic bar it has been around since the 1980’s that I can remember. I hope they don’t change the name after they reopen. I hope it’s just a renovation to spruce the place up.
Fat Cats is, or was, the oldest bar in downtown Lake Geneva. It actually dates back to the 1940’s, at the far end of the bar there was a photo from the late 1940’s / early 1950’s the owner kept whenever anyone inquired about the bar’s history.