“The January I Spy is the sign of the North Star Lounge at the corner of Fifth Ave. and Catherine,” writes Sara Kitzsteiner. “Ann Arbor is a good place to be vegan, this block is a big reason why,” says Sam Firke, praising the “outstanding cauliflower wings” from the adjoining Detroit Filling Station. “Lovely to see the North Star Lounge get a photo,” says Suzanne Tainter. “Now explain about the marble.”
“This lovely old brick barn was part of John Baumgardner’s stone and marble business,” explains Kitzsteiner. “The clue from ‘marble to music’ is an interesting one,” writes David Karl. “In the late 1860s, Anton Eisele established marble and granite works at the corner of Catherine and Detroit streets.” In later years, he adds, the brick corner building was a stable for horses that pulled milk wagons for Wurster Dairy, and the adjoining property was by turns “a gas station … a car dealership and body shop … and restaurant by the Argiero family.” The Argieros also ran an Italian grocery in the corner building for a while; most recently, it was Jessica’s Skin and Body Apothecary.
Bryan Magnuson sums up the building’s long history with a quip: “This building was originally a horse stable, but I say neigh, it is now for musicians!”
Our winner from thirty-one correct entries is Janelle Reichman, who shares that she played a sold-out album release show at North Star on January 20. Congrats, Janelle! She will enjoy her $25 gift certificate at Seva.
