Mo’s announces move, ballroom
Though the restaurant's fire-damaged home remains unprepared for business, Mo's Pub will reportedly be opening at the end of October at 1318 Ludington St., the former location of Ferdinand's Mexican Restaurant. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
The ghost of the letters of "Ferdinand's" are seen shortly after being removed from the building at 1318 Ludington St. in Escanaba. It is being remodeled to become the new location of Mo's Pub . (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Firefighters are seen outside Mo's Pub to fight a fire in July 2025 that forced the place to close. After over a year, the restaurant has announced that it is hiring and relocating. (Daily Press file photo by Ilsa Minor)
A digital sign at 2116 Ludington St. announces that the fire-damaged building -- which previously housed Mo's Pub -- will be turned into a lounge and ballroom next year. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Though the restaurant's fire-damaged home remains unprepared for business, Mo's Pub will reportedly be opening at the end of October at 1318 Ludington St., the former location of Ferdinand's Mexican Restaurant. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
The ghost of the letters of "Ferdinand's" are seen shortly after being removed from the building at 1318 Ludington St. in Escanaba. It is being remodeled to become the new location of Mo's Pub . (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Firefighters are seen outside Mo's Pub to fight a fire in July 2025 that forced the place to close. After over a year, the restaurant has announced that it is hiring and relocating. (Daily Press file photo by Ilsa Minor)
A digital sign at 2116 Ludington St. announces that the fire-damaged building -- which previously housed Mo's Pub -- will be turned into a lounge and ballroom next year. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
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ESCANABA -- The electronic sign outside the restaurant that burned and closed over one year ago confirms what had for weeks been rumor shared at local bars and on social media -- Mo's Pub will be reopening in the former Ferdinand's at the end of October.
Mo's Pub, which was located at 2116 Ludington St. in Escanaba, joined the list of city landmarks destroyed by fire after a blaze from the kitchen spread through the building on July 28, 2025.
The building still stands but was heavily damaged. The owners have decided that instead of reopening in the same location, the restaurant would move into 1318 Ludington St. -- which had housed Ferdinand's Mexican Restaurant until it closed in late 2025 -- and that the building at 2116 would get new life, according to the digital sign near the roof of the building that still bears the Mo's Pub signage.
Owner Christopher Cooper did not reply to request for comment, but he had previously said that people could watch the electronic sign for updates.
As of Monday, that sign was alternating between two messages. One reads:
"Mo's Pub / We're excited to announce / We're opening October 29th! / Moving downtown to 1318 Ludington Street / We will see you soon!"
A pretty clear announcement, it answers the question of how Mo's will be able to open in October as advertised when the old building is not in shape yet. Over at 1318, the Ferdinand's sign has been taken down, painting has begun and remodeling is underway.
The second message raises more questions as well as intrigue. It says:
"Coming soon to this location in 2027 / We are excited to announce / the return of the Stardust Lounge and / the Twilight Ballroom / for all of your wedding, corporate and party events.”
The Stardust Lounge is a name many will recognize; it operated at 2116 Ludington for about 50 years under multiple owners. At the place that operated as Mo’s Pub for a little over eight years — from February 2017 — the current sign indicates that it will become an event venue at some point next year.
The Facebook page "Enjoy Escanaba," which shares positive things happening around the area, posted a photograph on Monday of someone repainting the exterior of the former Ferdinand’s Mexican restaurant, sparking excited conversation from people who have been missing the burgers, tacos, beer, trivia and other offerings from Mo’s Pub since the devastating fire last summer.