When we asked By the Pound owner Glenn Bourland a few months ago about his store’s future, he thought he’d open at a new location in early 2017. By mid-October, he’d moved up the timeline. His last day at South Main Market is the day before Thanksgiving, with plans to reopen December 1 at Colonial Plaza on South Industrial.
Why the sudden rush? Apparently, the six-story future Residences at 615 S. Main apartment complex started casting its long shadow over South Main Market earlier than expected.
Bourland explains that developer Brandt Stiles of Collegiate Housing Partners came around in early fall to say a construction situation had prompted a need to get current tenants out before December, and incentivized a quicker move. Bourland had been looking at Packard Square, the mixed-use project on the site of the former Georgetown Kroger, but with construction halted there and a tight deadline, he realized he couldn’t wait.
“Holiday season is the busiest of the year for us,” he explains. In addition to his teas, coffees, and trinkets for gifts, customers need chocolates, nuts, dried fruit, spices, and other supplies: “It’s the holidays, and everyone bakes,” he says.
With the stressful decision behind him now, Bourland says he’s actually “tickled pink” about the new location at 1952 South Industrial, Suites C&D, next to Benny’s Family Dining. He says new landlord Bob Ufer Jr. has been good to work with. Rent is higher, but the space is larger.
Though parking is plentiful at the new location, some longtime Old West Side residents are sad they’ll have to drive instead of walk. Paula Newcomb, who works in the Buhr Building near the S. Main store, is one who’ll be making the trip. She a fan of By the Pound teas, “like the naturally sweetened decaf cinnamon, and buying a little of whatever I need, and just chatting.”
Bourland says the customers’ support “has been flattering, because as a store owner you just don’t know.
“It’s a shame for downtown, which really does need small stores,” he adds. “The 618 S. Main complex across the street brought new customers, and the Residen-ces at 615 S. Main would have too.”
The fate of the other remaining South Main Market tenants remains unsettled. San Fu closed in early October with no new location noted. Back Alley Gourmet owner Guerda Harris planned to close on November 30. She’s secured a rented commercial kitchen for her holiday catering commitments and says she’s working on a permanent new home but has nothing specific yet. Watch her website: backalleygourmetcatering.com
By the Pound, 1952 South Industrial (Colonial Plaza), Suites C&D, 665-8884, Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. facebook.com/bythelb
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This article has been edited since it was published in the December 2016 Ann Arbor Observer. The name of the person who notified Bourland of the need to move, and the store’s new address, have been corrected.
