Koreatown in Treetown
Big-name newcomers might be expected to rattle Ann Arbor’s independent businesses whose owners have Korean roots. But for now, at least, local proprietors say there’s room for everyone.
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Dine
A Brasserie on Glen Ave.
The operators of a new luxury hotel near U-M’s medical campus have chosen a French-inspired brasserie for their all-day restaurant concept.
Read MoreUpscale Asian Fusion in Downtown
An upscale Asian fusion restaurant has joined the fine-dining scene in the heart of downtown. Tabe (Japanese for “eat”) offers a low-key, elegant ambiance of exposed brick walls over three floors.
Read MoreShawarma at the Big Mall
Briarwood Mall shoppers and Planet Fitness members will soon have a spot for customizable Mediterranean cuisine, as Pita Express & Catering is expected to open May 1, according to the mall’s website.
Read MoreStoneFruit Social Is now 1824 Cocktails & Coffee
StoneFruit Social, which opened last spring in Foundry Lofts, has relaunched under a new name: 1824 Cocktails & Coffee.
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Changing the Guard at Sparrow Market
“They kind of all took me in like I’m family, and I feel part of the family,” Campise says. On May 1, he’ll officially become the market’s new owner, aiming to carry on the Sparrow name and legacy of old-fashioned personalized service.
Read MoreForever 21 Ages Out
Liquidation sales are well underway at Forever 21’s large storefront next to JCPenney in Briarwood Mall. The long-troubled fast-fashion chain is winding down operations both locally and at its approximately 357 stores nationwide.
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BO’s Bagels Arrives
Sporting the initials of cofounder Andrew Martinez’s now-grown children, Brody and Olivia, BO’s Bagels is boiling and baking eighteen varieties of bagels—four to five thousand of them daily—on the ground floor of a South U highrise.
Read MoreNew Owners at Wolverine State Brewing
After fourteen years on W. Stadium, Wolverine State Brewing Co. has temporarily closed its taproom. CEO Matt Roy says he expects it to reopen this fall under new ownership.
Read MoreThe Hen Is Stray No Longer
A Chicago native, Fronimos is feeling more at home since moving here to open The Stray Hen in 2021. So he recently dropped “stray” from the name, further differentiating it from the full-service establishment he co-owns back home.
Read MoreBeyond Boba
The owners of the former Ding Tea boba shop on E. William have expanded into the neighboring storefront and opened a franchise of Paris Banh Mi.
Read MoreA Coffee Hobbyist Goes Pro
“I’m passionate about teaching and learning, and I want to share the journey that I’ve had through coffee,” says Mike Bawden. He’s turned what had been a hobby into a new career with Curious Coffee.
Read MoreNew Owners at Wicked Mary’s
For half a century, a small standalone building on Packard has served southeast-siders as a takeout joint for chicken and seafood.
Read MoreThe Korean Fried Chicken Boom Continues
Korean cuisine is surging in popularity, with no fewer than four new restaurants added to the city’s mix since 2022. The latest is Bonchon, a fast-casual fried chicken franchise that opened in January in Woodland Plaza.
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Echelon’s Elemental Experience
Echelon Kitchen + Bar, the latest addition to downtown’s fine dining scene, took over two years from lease to launch. Its managing director calls that “a blessing in disguise.”
Read MoreHometown Pizza Opens on Jackson Rd.
A former golf pro and his partner have teamed to bring Hometown Pizza to Scio Twp. Later this year, the shop will include Under Par Simulators, allowing golfers to get in their swings in a realistic indoor environment.
Read MoreRestaurants & Dining
Get out, and dine in! Break the winter chill with multicourse fine dining, quick lunches, or tasty to-gos. Enjoy all the creative and delicious culinary delights Ann Arbor has to offer this February. Click to read online Click...
Read MoreA Tale of Two Chicken Chains
The Southern hospitality of Slim Chickens now extends to Scio Township, where the fast-casual chain recently opened its first stand-alone restaurant in Michigan.
Read MoreDoubling Up
Avalon Cafe and Kitchen has moved a block west, joining forces with another Mission Restaurant Group restaurant, the Pretzel Bell.
Read MoreYemeni Coffee in Maple Village
“In other areas of the world, if you get Yemeni coffee beans, they’re called the gold mine of coffee beans, because they have lower acidity,” says manager Ghaith Balbeisi. “It’s a healthier coffee. It’s a better quality product as well.”
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