DOWAGIAC — Dowagiac’s city officials would like to see a restaurant stay at the former location of Zeke’s within the downtown district.

With that idea in mind, the council unanimously voted at a special meeting to purchase the building at 109 S. Front St., Dowagiac for $350,000 on March 3. Included in the purchase was licensing and all of the building’s equipment and contents.

Earlier this year, Zeke’s management announced the restaurant would be closed indefinitely in a Facebook post.

The restaurant, which served Dowagiac locals and visitors for more than 30 years, was set to be sold at an auction on March 10.

“It went to auction with a very short window of time for anybody to come forward and buy,” said City Manager Kevin Anderson. “Council took a look and said, ‘Here’s a building that’s right at the main entrance of downtown. It’s been existing for several years; we would like to see a restaurant be able to come back.’”

As city officials counted down the days until the auction, it became apparent that an interested buyer would not purchase the property in the allotted period of time, Anderson said. Council requested the city to look into extending the auction date. However, the owner, who was choosing to retire, felt ready to move on, Anderson said.

“Council really looked at it and had a conversation and asked, ‘What is in the best interest of the community?’” Anderson said. “Leaving that building all together so it could be sold as a building or get parted out.’”

City officials also expressed concerns about the 8,160 square foot building being hallowed out.

With purchase remaining as the only option, city council unanimously voted to purchase the building, Anderson said.

After the city’s purchase of the restaurant, the city hired a company with a background in selling restaurants to help market the property.

Already, Anderson said the property has been shown to two interested parties.

“The goal is to get somebody back in there as quickly and prudently as possible,” he said. “We are out looking for restaurateurs.”

In the past, the city’s elected officials have used economic development funds to purchase properties downtown.

“We have had a number of successes in the past being able to get some buildings downtown and get them back into the marketplace appropriately,” he said.

Anderson used Wood Fire Trattoria, Front Street Crossing and 1st Source Bank as examples of buildings that the city took ownership of and got back into the marketplace.

“We are hoping we can do some of the other things we’ve done downtown to make it work,” he said. “We think we have a reasonable track record and are hoping to build on that.”

The vision for the city is to have a restaurant well received by the community with a similar atmosphere to Zeke’s.

“You’d go in there, and you always saw faces you knew,” Anderson said. “It was a gathering spot for a lot of folks. We really want to see that kind of thing continue there.”