At Solid Rock Cafe, a Christian teen club that opened in Traverse City just over a year ago, owner Michael Parrish largely leaves teens to their own accord, whether they're playing pool, video games, surfing the Internet or listening to bands on Saturdays. We just let them do what they're going to do. We've had zero trouble. Of course, lasting success for his restaurant may hinge as much on burgers and fries and quarter slots in the pool table as management style. Parrish said he hopes to bring in more revenues by offering breakfast.
Cash can be a problem.
There are exceptions. Board members are considering other youth-related activities to spend the money on. The teen center opened to offer an alternative to large beer parties that brought on a rash of drunken-driving accidents, she said. Now she hopes Cadillac residents don't wait for similar problems to emerge before they find a new alternative to keep teens occupied. There is no simple solution.