We know we speak for a great many long-time Marquette area residents, and more than a few newer arrivals, in voicing support for the repurposing and ultimate reuse of the old Northwoods Supper Club in Marquette Township.

The building, idle for the past several years, will be used as a brewpub and craft brewery, developers Nick VanCourt and Marina Dupler announced last week. According to a press release, the brewery will focus on farmhouse and barrel-aged style beers. VanCourt and Dupler are Upper Peninsula natives, residents of Marquette and graduates of Northern Michigan University. They plan to call the brewery Barrel and Beam.

For many years, the Northwoods was run by Ron Klumb of Marquette. It was a destination restaurant, a place people were willing to drive fairly significant distances for dinner. Its customers were willing to do that because of the extraordinarily high quality of the food served there, plus the outstanding atmosphere and customer service.

But in recent years, the log structure, built in the 1930s, has been idle and little doubt deteriorating. That these two beer entrepreneurs are willing to take on renovating and saving the building, while providing brew afficiandos with one more reason to visit the Marquette area can only be seen as great news.

We wish them the best of luck going forward.