Longtime Bloomington restaurant closing

After 38 years in Bloomington, MCL Restaurant and Bakery will be closing July 14. MCL, 2100 S. Liberty Drive, has recently received a company-wide overhaul, including a name change from MCL Cafeteria to MCL Restaurant and Bakery, as well as new signs, emblems and even a new advertising campaign. \n“The store has increased (sales) dramatically in recent years, but not enough to remain open,” said Charley Moore, MCL BLoomington’s general manager. \nIn addition to providing a cafeteria-style restaurant, MCL offers catering, banquets and space for large groups to meet for regular meetings. \nThe Bloomington Monroe County Convention Center recently signed a contract with MCL to supply the food for events booked there. Even though the Bloomington MCL will be closing, MCL will have a kitchen at the convention center to provide the center with catering services. \nMoore said any events already booked at the Bloomington MCL, such as banquets and receptions, have been offered space instead at the convention center. He also said more than half of these future banquets have agreed to relocate to the convention center. \nOne local resident, Ben Moody, had his wedding reception booked in MCL’s banquet hall next May. \n“It was really disappointing because we loved the place; it is a beautiful spot,” Moody said. “MCL was very gracious and went out on a limb to take care of us after the closing.” \nThe restaurant employed a large number of people, 44 of whom have been laid off, while 38 were retained in some capacity, Moore said. One employee who was retained, Emily Courtney, said she will be on call for any banquets or catering jobs that come to the convention center.\nMCL Bloomington was originally located in College Mall, but in March 2004 the store relocated to the west side of town on Liberty Drive. This building was formerly occupied by Gray Brothers Cafeteria.