New bar, coffee shop, & barbecue head for downtown Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti is getting a new coffee shop and new bar, among several new businesses moving in.The new coffee shop, B-24’s Espresso Bar, is opening in the former Bombadill’s Cafe, says Tim Colbeck, director of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority. That space had been closed for about six months; the name is a nod to the bombers manufactured at Willow Run during World War II.The new bar, Woodruff’s, is in the former Celebrations space in Depot Town. That also had been sitting vacant, and the space put to use for this year’s music festival, Mittenfest. “Everything’s been a-OK’d and they’re up and running,” Colbeck says.Also coming to downtown Ypsilanti, hopefully by St. Patrick’s Day, is Red Rock Downtown Barbecue, in the former T.C. Speakeasy’s space. Three more downtown Ypsilanti storefronts have been recently renovated, with The Rocket candy and novelty store moving into one of the spaces on West Michigan Avenue. A marijuana dispensary may also open.Colbeck says he believes Ypsilanti has done pretty well during the economic downturn partly because people love the city. “The people who are from Ypsi love Ypsi,” he says. “They buy into this community.”Source: Tim Colbeck, director of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development AuthorityWriter: Kristin Lukowski