Retail : Development News

Source: Janette Rook, The Eyrie
Writer: Natalie Burg

Source: JW Boyle, America's Resellers Corp
Writer: Natalie Burg

Source: Clay Byrd, Screamin Hot Shoes
Writer: Natalie Burg

Source: Kelly Hadin, Shine
Writer: Natalie Burg

At Ypsilanti's A Pocketful O' Tea, the reaction to Flowering Dragon, a lavender-green tea mix with rose hips and hibiscus, has been anything but tepid. "I actually have people come in and ask for it that have never been here," says Chris Biek, who opened his tea shop at 8 W. Michigan Avenue last December.

There is seating for up to 15 people in the emporium. Biek installed new flooring and re-painted the space. He also carries locally-made alcohol-free soaps and lotions, cards and jewelry, and serves organic coffee. He plans to offer baked goods and sandwiches once approvals from the city health department have been received.

Biek, an EMU student who holds a second job as well, is relying on volunteer help at the shop. It's open every day of the week except Thursdays.

"I get all sorts of foot traffic," he says. "I try and avoid going into Ann Arbor, so I wanted to be able to open a place that Ypsilanti doesn't have, and so that people who can't make it to Ann Arbor, they can get affordable tea here, and coffee."

Source: Chris Biek, owner, A Pocketful O' Tea
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Contrary to popular forecasting a few years back, e-books haven't done to print what the cell phone has done to pay phones and land lines. Rather, thoughtfully curated, indie book emporiums are still a welcomed alternative to mega stores and e-readers.

Literati Bookstore will open at 124 E. Washington St., likely in early spring, says Hilary Lowe, who co-owns the store with her husband, Michael Gustafson. The couple moved to Ann Arbor from Brooklyn late in July with plans to open an indie book shop downtown.

"We want to be a general-interest store because there is a real void left by Shaman Drum and Borders, serving the populace as a general bookstore selling new titles," Lowe says. "We will be focusing on literary fiction and quality non-fiction."

She sees this as an underserved market in Ann Arbor. The West Side Bookshop, Dawn Treader, Kaleidoscope, and Motte and Bailey carry a huge assortment of used books. New book purveyors include Aunt Agatha's Mystery Bookstore and Crazy Wisdom, which primarily emphasizes spirituality.

And, "Nicola's does a great job, but they're not in the walkable downtown area, and that was kind of our goal," says Lowe.

The store has 2,600 square feet on the basement and ground-floor levels and is undergoing a refurbishment. The work includes refinishing the wood floor on the ground level, carpeting and painting the basement, new lighting, and a fire alarm system.

To begin with, Literati Bookstore will have 3-5 part-timers on staff, along with Lowe and Gustafson. It will be open seven days a week, with hours to be announced at a later date.

Source: Hilary Lowe, co-owner, Literati Bookstore
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

A gift shop known for whimsy has landed a new outlet in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown. Catching Fireflies, which also has stores in Berkley and Rochester, Mich., is looking to open by the end of March at 419 Detroit St., according to co-owner April McCrumb.

McCrumb, a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, formerly sold her handmade paper goods at Ann Arbor's Sunday Artisan Market. "It's exciting to be able to come back to it in a new way, 15 years later," she says.

Look for a turquoise-painted exterior when the weather warms, and a multicolored interior. Catching Fireflies carries an extensive selection of work from Michigan-based artisans, and a kitchen sink, crib, bathtub will get second lives as displays in the 2,800 sq. ft. space.

"We'll have giant repurposed industrial wire spools and tables. We use a lot of doors too. We definitely try to do nontraditional displays, so it'll be a fun, neat feel as opposed to a standard gift shop," says McCrumb.

Source: April McCrumb, co-owner of Catching Fireflies
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Kip Barry's Magic and Performing Arts Center is the latest nightlife and entertainment venue in Braun Court, across from Ann Arbor's Kerrytown Mall. Located at 325 Braun Court, owner and founder Kip Barry describes the center as a magic store with a theater inside.

The shop will carry a full line of magic and novelty items and be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12-5 p.m. on Sunday. The theater seats up to 50 people in front of a new stage, where magic shows, lectures, poetry readings, and jazz performances will take place. Theatergoers can also avail themselves of a concession stand serving cupcakes, cookies, and coffee. Five employees will staff the operation.

The theater is also open for other performers. "It's going to be for community theater, where an outside group can four-wall it, which means they can rent it for their small productions...we're going to have variety acts," Barry says.

Barry has been practicing magic since age 9. He is also a jazz singer who has toured in 60 countries. This will be his sixth magic store; he previously sold his wares locally at a kiosk at Briarwood Mall and at Elmo's.

"I'm looking [for this theater] to be sort of a new-age vaudeville, especially in a place like Kerrytown, because that community there is not only smart but creative and very family-oriented," Barry says, adding, "I want things that are family-oriented yet not so mainstream that you can see them just anywhere."

A Christmas show will take place on Sat., Dec. 15. Call (734) 985-5184 for more information.

Source: Kip Barry, owner and founder, Kip Barry's Magic and Performing Arts Center
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

In foodie haven Ann Arbor, there's always room for another bottle of wine. The owners of Charlevoix, Mich.-based Esperance Wine are hoping to open a local outpost for their shop by the end of December, in time for New Year's Eve champagne.

Interior construction on the shop at 1251 N. Maple started this past Monday. The space is just under 1,000 square feet.

The emporium will not specialize in any particular wine or appellation; "We just chase any region that displays quality," says Pram Acharya, who co-owns Esperance Wine with his wife Suzanne.

Esperance Wine will also carry a selection of gourmet foods, such as truffles from Italy.

Two or three employees will staff the shop to begin with, Acharya says.

Source: Pram Acharya, co-owner of Esperance Wine
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Patients will soon be able to see a doctor and fill their prescriptions under one roof in Ann Arbor. Clark Professional Pharmacy will be moving from its current location on Clark Road in Ypsilanti to a shared building space with the newly opened Washtenaw Urgent Care clinic at 3280 Washtenaw Avenue. Ahed Salamen, a pharmacist who co-owns the business with Nathan Worthing, expects to open on January 10, 2013.

Salamen anticipates higher traffic and more exposure in the new space. "Nathan and I purchased the pharmacy in 2007, and since then have outgrown the business. We need an additional 2,000 square feet to be comfortable. This facility is three times the [size of the] current facility we're in."

The 3,500 square-foot store will offer special compounding services and regular prescriptions.

"It'll be similar to the CVS / Walgreen's-type model, but in addition to that you'll have a lab: 5,000 square feet of lab where you'll see medications being custom made for patients," Salamen says. The pharmacy will also carry an exclusive line of juices and high-end neutraceuticals, which are over-the-counter pharmaceutical-grade items.

Clark Professional Pharmacy has two pharmacists and seven other staff. Salamen also plans to hire a nutritionist and possibly a sterile lab technician for the new location.

Source: Ahed Salamen, pharmacist and co-owner, Clark Professional Pharmacy
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Jan McCormick is putting her British stamp of style and changing American tastes into The Pear Tree, a gift shop in the Dixboro community of Ann Arbor.

The nearly three-month-old shop is at 5153 Plymouth Road and joins the burgeoning, historic village with its village green and specialty businesses. Next door to Pear Tree is a coffee shop Across the street is a general store. It's a combo that attracts shoppers with an appreciation for quaint.

McCormick, a former Londoner who's married to longtime Detroit News car columnist John McCormick, has stocked Pear Tree with goods she feels are special or unique. There's jewelry, pottery, clothing and other merchandise, which changes often and comes from Michigan whenever possible.

Source: John McCormick, co-owner The Pear Tree
Writer: Kim North Shine

Those looking for a respite from Ann Arbor's go-go entrepreneurial and test-cramming culture have a new spa to look forward to with the planned opening of Jessica's Skin & Body Care Apothecary at 301 N. Fifth Avenue next month.

Owner and esthetician Jessica Elkins will be relocating from a room in the A2 Yoga Building. "Currently my location is open for services by appointment only so it will be wonderful to have a store that is open to the public. Our current clients will no longer have to book an appointment to pick up products," Elkins says in an email.

The 1,200 square-foot, two-story building is to have new floors and custom cabinetry in its two facial rooms, massage room, and retail area. Mineral makeup, body scrubs, and made-to-order organic body oils and body scrubs will be for sale.

Besides Elkins, the spa and apothecary will have seven to eight employees, including four estheticians, a trio of massage therapists, and one or two receptionists.

Elkins is planning a grand opening event on Saturday, October 20, with appointments available the next day. The opening is subject to city permit approvals, but the build is on schedule, she says.

Source:  Jessica Elkins, owner, Jessica's Skin & Body Care Apothecary
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar