If Only Every Town had a Zingerman’s…

Zingerman's, the business every city wishes it had. Now, if only they'd move their business here. Anyone want to throw in a few sandwiches to sweeten the deal?Excerpt:If only every town had a Zingerman's …what a wonderful world it would be!  We had the great fortune to spend a couple days in Ann Arbor last week with the team from Zingerman's, exploring ways we might be able to work together and learning more about the great business model they have developed.Read the rest of the story here.

Ypsilanti’s Beezy’s lives up to motto

One of downtown Ypsilanti's newest spots is also one of its nicest. And that's what seperates it from the cookie-cutter corporate cafes that dot 'other'downtowns.Excerpt:Beezy's Cafe isn't just another breakfast joint. Or lunch joint.Bee Mayhew, the cafe's namesake, owner, cook and bottle washer, has transformed the former Oasis Cafe storefront on Washington Street in Ypsilanti into its own oasis of Mayhew's own design.Beezy's reputation preceded it by the time we arrived there recently, thanks to a load of positive press in the local blogging community. Still, we were unprepared for just how wonderful this small, intimate and charming Beezy's really is.Using her experience working for the Zingerman's empire, Mayhew has taken Zingerman's customer-first mantra and insistence on high-quality ingredients and removed from the equation its somewhat self-consciously quirky attitude.The result is just what the cafe's motto claims to offer: "Simple, honest food."Read the rest of the story here.

Ex-Ann Arborites who moved with Pfizer now laid off amid Wyeth merger

Oh, the cruel irony. Looks like those Pfizerites who choose to stay are becoming the champions. And the ones that left? Some are slated to be laid off.Excerpt:As Pfizer preps to lay off some 20,000 employees in connection with its $68 billion acquisition of Wyeth, several workers who accepted transfers from Pfizer's ex-Ann Arbor site can expect to be among those losing their jobs, several sources said.David Canter, former site director of Pfizer's 2-million-square-foot Ann Arbor campus, said it's likely that some ex-Ann Arbor Pfizer workers who accepted transfers would be laid off."It's inevitable that some of them will just be hit by that," he said.Stephen Rapundalo, who left Pfizer in 2003 and serves as executive director of MichBio, the state's life sciences association, said he knew of several ex-Ann Arbor Pfizer employees who stayed with the company and have been laid off."Some of them have already gotten their notices. Quite a few actually," he said.Pfizer announced in January 2007 that it would close its Michigan research operations as part of a global restructuring plan. More than 2,100 Ann Arbor employees, including thousands of world-class scientists, were displaced.Read the rest of the story here.

Chelsea bike shop outgrows bowling-alley space

There are more two wheel options in Chelsea now. Or, at least, Aberdeen Bike & Fitness has more room now to ply their pedal-powered wares.Excerpt:After years of being somewhat hidden in the Chelsea Lanes bowling alley, Aberdeen Bike & Fitness has moved into part of the old Polly's grocery store space down the road.The bike and accessories shop is owned by Mike Casey and his wife, Lauren Gilbert. They opened in the new spot last month."We have more than doubled our showroom," said Casey, who has worked in the cycling business for nearly 30 years. "We outgrew our (former) space and our visibility there was always a little bit of an issue."Read the rest of the story here.

Ann Arbor’s Retail Incubator

From small things, big things one day come. That's the philosophy of tech incubators like SPARK. But with all the attention Ann Arbor gives to start-ups, one has to ask: Where's the love for small downtown retailers? Some entrepreneurs are finding it at East Liberty Plaza.

Middle Managers Learn To Shift Gears

Sometimes size does matter. Working for a large company like Visteon can be very different than taking a position at a start-up. As Ann Arbor's new economy seeds the ground with small tech firms, transitioning employees must adapt to changing job expectations.

Ann Arbor hosts public speaker on public art on Thursday

Ann Arbor is bringing in a speaker on public art Thursday at a time when the city is really starting to encourage more and more public art in its downtown.The Ann Arbor Public Art Commission, along with a number of other local organizations, is hosting Anne Pasternak, the President and Artistic Director of Creative Time. Pasternak is well-known advocate of public art and her organization has been commissioning innovative art in New York City since 1972. She has worked closely with artists such as Doug Aitken, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Jenny Holzer, Gary Hume, Vik Muniz, Takashi Murakami, Shirin Neshat, Steve Powers and Cai Guo Qiang. The lecture will begin at 5 p.m. in the Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty, in downtown Ann Arbor. For information, call (734) 764-3464.Source: Margaret Parker, chair of the Ann Arbor Public Art CommissionWriter: Jon Zemke

Developer plans to raze blighted Michigan Inn on Ann Arbor’s west side

A big piece of blight is about to come down on the far west of Ann Arbor, the old Michigan Inn motel.The single-story motel has sat vacant on Jackson Road near I-94 for years. The building is in visible disrepair, its landscaping is overgrown and has been the victim of fire damage in recent years.Ann Arbor-area resident Larry Hiss recently bought the 1968 structure, originally a Ramada Inn, and the four acres it sits on with plans to redevelop it. First thing is to raze the 129-room hotel and restaurant, which is set to happen in mid March or sooner. He also plans to build a yet-to-be-determined development on the acreage in the foreseeable future."We have some different idea from different people," says Larry Hiss, the owner of the Michigan Inn. "We could make it commercial or make part of it residential. There are a lot of ideas right now."The Michigan Economic Growth Authority recently approved $526,000 in tax incentives to redevelop the property. The catch is it has to be a multi-use facility. The new development is also expected to be worth about $28 million.Source: Larry Hiss, owner of the old Michigan InnWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor DDA to present underground garage plans to City Council

The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority is going for City Council approval on Tuesday for its plans to build a 785-space underground parking garage next to the District Library’s downtown branch on Fifth Avenue."We're hoping for the approval so we can get to work improving the water mains and sewers this summer and the parking deck by this fall," says Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development AuthorityThe parking structure is planned to go under a large surface parking lot. The underground deck will be four stories deep, running beneath Fifth Avenue, connecting it to the old YMCA site. Other options for the parking garage that are under consideration include: preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles and incorporating both energy efficient LED lights and natural lighting.City officials are still debating what to put above the underground structure. There have been reports of plans for a small convention center, but nothing has been decided yet. Source: Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development AuthorityWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor Airport officials study extending runway

Sometimes bigger can be better. With that in mind, officials at the Ann Arbor Airport are looking to lengthen its runways.The Ann Arbor City Council recently approved a environmental impact study on extending the airport's runway. However, if the extensions happen don't let your expectations get carried away. It won't be rivaling Metro Airport any time soon. It’s more about improving what the airport already has and making it more efficient.Airplanes using the airport have had trouble keeping to the current runway, sometimes having to taxi off the end. This extension would solve the problem."It makes us a safer airport," says Matt Kulhanek, the manager for the Ann Arbor Airport.The airport is already in the middle of expanding its facilities. It's spending $2.5 million to build six hangars and a new maintenance shed. The runway extension would probably start after that project is finished."If the stars all line up, you'd be talking sumer 2010, best case," Kulhanek says.Source: Matt Kulhanek, the manager for the Ann Arbor AirportWriter: Jon Zemke

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