ESCANABA — It was barely two weeks after the closure of JN Taxi that two new-to-Escanaba cab companies rushed in to fill the gap. Now, residents may turn to either Get-a-Cab or Kacalo City Cab when they need a lift.

A month ago, JN had been the only taxi service in Escanaba. When it put the brakes on operation in early May, residents were left wondering if the Delta Area Transit Authority (DATA) would somehow fill the void, if they’d have to download Uber or another rideshare app and hope drivers were nearby, or if a new service would emerge.

By Memorial Day, taxi cabs began to be seen in town. Now, Escanaba and its neighboring communities have Kacalo City Cab and Get-a-Cab, both of which are fresh to the streets of Esky but are known in Dickinson County.

Get-a-Cab arrived from Iron Mountain with a “soft opening” in Escanaba on Monday. Available for service 24-7, but without many calls coming in yet, it started with just one car in Escanaba. Manager TJ McCarthy said they have more vehicles ready to go when demand picks up.

Get-a-Cab had previously looked into coming to Escanaba, but when they found out that the city was already served by a taxi company, they backed off — “we didn’t really want to step on JN’s feet,” said McCarthy.

He explained that Get-a-Cab values their customers and takes pride in the service they offer. Drivers are drug tested and background-checked, and the cars are kept in good shape, the oldest is from 2022, McCarthy said.

Escanaba is the third city for Get-A-Cab, which is based in Iron Mountain and also operates in Marinette. The company will soon be hiring more local drivers.

Kacalo City Cab, owned by Edward Kacalo of Kingsford, came to Escanaba with at first just one cab to fill a night shift — from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. — but hopes to fledge out offerings to be full-time by the end of the week.

“The town is in dire need of a cab company to serve it,” said Kacalo. “We’ll step up to the plate and see if we can help out the community. You know, that’s what it’s all about.”

Though they’ve been in Kingsford for nine years, the business has been operating for around 60, Kacalo said, initially in Wausaukee, Wis. The operation formerly named just “City Cab” had been owned by Henry and Kathy Patrick until Kacalo bought it in 2018.

Kacalo said that the cab company will probably end up running three or four cars, and that he’s already lined up drivers who had previously been employed with JN.

The number for Kacalo City Cab is 906-221-9979. Get-a-Cab can be reached at 866-GETACAB (866-438-2222).