PETOSKEY — Palette Bistro is undergoing extensive reconstruction after a broken pipe flooded both dining rooms this winter. The restaurant is expected to be closed for several weeks while crews rebuild and restore the space.
The damage follows 15 years of operation for the bistro. Since the flooding occurred, the restaurant has received numerous offers of help from the community, leading ownership to suggest specific ways for the public to support the business and its staff during the closure.
The broken pipe caused significant flooding that soaked much of the bistro within a matter of hours. The incident happened during a period of deep freeze this winter, resulting in extensive damage that affected both dining rooms.
Community members looking to assist can purchase gift cards as part of the restaurant’s ongoing anniversary celebration. For every $100 gift card purchased through Feb. 28, 2026, customers will receive a $15 bonus. Gift cards are available through the Wineguys Restaurant Group website.
Patrons are also encouraged to support sister establishments within the Wineguys Restaurant Group while Palette Bistro remains closed. These eateries include City Park Grill, Roast & Toast and Jax Northside.
The Portuguese Wine Dinner previously scheduled for Palette Bistro has been moved to Feb. 19. The event will now take place at City Park Grill in the Hemingway Room. Reservations for the dinner can be made by calling 231-347-0101.
Other support options for the public include joining the Frequent Diner program to receive construction updates and nominating the restaurant for the MyNorth Red Hot Best awards.
Joe Keedy serves as the general manager of Palette Bistro and is a partner with Wineguys Restaurant Group. Keedy expressed appreciation for the community support the restaurant has received over the past week.
“It’s difficult to see our dining rooms this way,” Keedy said. “Thank you for your encouragement and for being the community that has supported Palette Bistro for 15 memorable years.”
Ownership is already looking toward a reopening that will include updated dining rooms and a new menu. Keedy described the upcoming phase as a new chapter for the business shaped by the current challenge.
“We’re also looking ahead,” Keedy said. “When we reopen, guests can expect refreshed dining rooms and an updated menu, like a new chapter shaped by an unexpected challenge.”
The restaurant team is currently planning for a reopening alongside a postponed 15-year anniversary celebration. Progress updates will be shared on the business’s Facebook and Instagram pages as construction continues.