The S. Main space of Avalon Cafe and Kitchen recently reverted to a private dining area for the connected Pretzel Bell, less than two years after moving there from the original Pretzel Bell building a block east.
The move coincides with True North Hospitality Group’s refresh of Pretzel Bell’s offerings with a “From Our Neighbors” initiative to spotlight Michigan food suppliers. They’ve also added elements from Avalon to a Saturday and Sunday brunch menu.
New general manager Carley Burkett personally favors the new spinach artichoke dip served with house-made pumpernickel, while noting that “the menu didn’t drastically change. It just improved the ingredients that we were putting into it.”
Sparrow Market in Kerrytown supplies several cuts of steak, including prime or dry-aged Angus porterhouse served in portions for tables of two, four, six, eight, or ten with family-style sides.
“I am telling you, we have the best steak I have ever had in Michigan!” enthuses majority owner Jon Carlson.
Burkett describes the concept as a “country club–meets–sports bar atmosphere in an unpretentious way, where downstairs can bring the nightlife of Ann Arbor and the student crowd to life too.”
“Downstairs” refers to the basement Down Bar, open Thursdays until midnight and Fridays and Saturdays until 2 a.m., and featuring pinball, ping-pong, and pool, among other games.
Pretzel Bell, 226 S Main. (734) 994–2773. Mon.–Thurs. 4–10 p.m., Fri. 4–11 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–10 p.m. thepretzelbell.com
The area’s first Qdoba, in Woodland Plaza at S. Main and Ann Arbor–Saline Rd., recently closed. Ann Arbor native Peter Shipman launched the franchise of the fast-casual Mexican chain in 2003, eventually adding others and branching into Jersey Mike’s Subs as well. He tells the Observer he sold his Qdoba interest back to the parent company in 2011 and is no longer active in the food business.
Now known as Qdoba Mexican Eats, the world’s third-largest Mexican food chain continues in the Michigan Union, a Meijer outlot on Zeeb, and Huron Village at Washtenaw Ave. and Huron Pkwy.
Zales has closed its Briarwood Mall jewelry store after ten years. It’s one of several brands owned by Signet Jewelers, the world’s largest diamond jewelry retailer.
At Kay Jewelers, another Signet subsidiary, an employee reports that they’ll be moving from their spot across from the new Apple store into the smaller storefront Zales occupied off center court. She adds that they’ll accept warranty repair orders for Zales merchandise, saving customers a trip to Taylor or Novi, the closest remaining Zales locations.
Also at Briarwood, INTY.M Gallery has given way to a presumably seasonal appearance by Spirit Halloween in the large JCPenney-wing space long occupied by Forever 21. Inty Muenala’s native clothing and gift store NTVES remains active a few doors east along the mall’s main corridor.
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