Nicola Buys Borders
“They have improved their chances no end by putting him in charge,” says Nicola Rooney.Rooney is the owner of Nicola’s Books in Westgate Shopping Center. Surprisingly, the person she’s praising is the new...
Read MoreMarketplace
Terry B’s reviewed
Terry Bs is a study in contrasts. Its nineteenth-century Greek Revival house pops out on Dexters stately Ann Arbor Street in twenty-first century gold and purple. The dining tables are dressed in white cloths, the silver and...
Read MoreA Cultural One-Two Punch
In late May, a Boston lawyer and his client, in town for a few days of litigating, were standing in front of Bella Ciao. “These three restaurants,” he said, peering at a piece of paper in his hand. “Any one of...
Read MoreScott Eckland’s pint-size signs
Scott Eckland is a sign maker and graphic designer, but he also sells tiles sandblasted with clever sayings and children’s handprints.He plans to move his Chelsea Signs business into the Middle Square Professional Building...
Read MorePolka Dot Puppy jumps up
Like millions of other pet owners, Julia Kesten and Tina LaFleur were horrified last year when dozens of animals died after eating tainted pet food. But unlike millions of others, they were inspired to start a business—the Polka...
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Wild Acorn takes root
For Dee Miles, owner of Manchester’s newest—and only—art gallery, art should be about everyday things. “Art is a hand-carved spoon, a wooden chopping block, and what you wear around your neck,” she says. Those...
Read MoreWings-Pizza-N-Things offers food and games
The new Super Wal-Mart in Saline hasn’t broken ground yet, but behind the site at State Road and Michigan Avenue the State Street Crossings strip mall has spaces to lease. Its first tenants include a hair salon, a nail...
Read MoreBulldog Computer Moves and Grows
Matt Minard started working on computers when he was eight and his mother needed some help. Since 2003, he’s been repairing computers and game systems at his own store in the Clocktower Annex, Bulldog Computers. Now...
Read MoreWackenhut Gartens Grows
Owner Janice Stevenson originally operated Wackenhut Gartens out of a twelve-by-eight garden shed on Liberty Road just west of Parker. While she didn’t have a drive-up window, she did offer curb service. “I literally...
Read MoreJasmine Tea in Country Creek Plaza
Hannah Renken stands behind the counter at Saline’s newest cafe and gracefully demonstrates how to prepare the perfect cup of jasmine tea for her coworker, Kimberly Conn. “Mrs. Chang says to pour the water from high...
Read MoreGoodbye to Golden Rose
After twenty-seven years Carol Kliber has closed the Golden Rose flower shop on Green Road. At Avanti Hair Designers next door, Wanda and Ray Heinrich say that Kliber ended her tenure there with an auction of everything:...
Read MoreTea, antiques, and pipes
Teavana, a fast-growing mall chain selling high-quality teas and the pots to make them in, has opened a store in Briarwood. Tim Auck, the personable manager, came up from the Teavana in Columbus, Ohio, and is a jolly font of...
Read MoreToo subtle?
Umi Sushi’s owner, Mike Kim, spent a year learning the trade at Saline’s Biwako, where I enjoyed monstrous, occasionally weird, and generally delicious sushi rolls on several visits last year. So I was very eager to...
Read MoreThe ultimate M Den
Dave Hirth and Doug Horning opened their fifth M Den in the former Steve & Barry’s space at the end of March. It’s by far their biggest Michigan memorabilia store, with 11,000 square feet spread over two floors....
Read MoreSailing to Canton
Suburban Canton is an easy twenty-minute drive from Ann Arbor. Although its big-box “downtown” sits squarely at the corner of Bland and Stripmall, it’s also got restaurants unlike any you’ll find in Ann...
Read MoreTios Moves to Liberty
After twenty-three years on Huron Street next to City Hall, Tios Mexican Café got the boot when the city bought the building last year. Owner Tim Seaver was scrambling to find a new space before his lease ends June 30, and he...
Read MoreKnight’s Gambit
“I came back from vacation,” recalls Sherry Knight Bedolla, “and they said, ‘You’re moving over there.'””They” are her father, Ray Knight, and her brother Don—founder and manager,...
Read MoreFlowers, food, feet, & more
Gwen Kassa bought the University Flower Shop in Nickels Arcade from longtime owner Dolly Holek in February. Holek, who’s in her early sixties, owned the store for twenty years and she’ll be working there part time...
Read MoreYarn and futon stores close
Liz Zimmerman posted a note at her Flying Sheep Yarns shop saying “I’m sorry to say I have to close the shop. I’ll be here until March 31st at least and I can be reached by email.” But she didn’t...
Read MoreEthiopian Hospitality
I think sometimes that what makes America the shining city on a hill is the glow of all the restaurant signs of brave immigrants who’ve come here to redefine their future—and ours. Twenty years ago, the Blue Nile was Ann...
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