Michigan has the fifth highest number of microbreweries in the nation, and the Ann Arbor area is doing more than its fair share to keep those numbers up. From Ypsi to Dexter to Milan, locally brewed ales, lagers and stouts are not only becoming the beverage of choice, but also bringing community together in unexpected ways.
There is one more place to drink a microbrew or two in downtown now that Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales has opened the doors on its new Ann Arbor location. The Dexter-based craft brewery took over the old Peppers bar space at 311 S Main St. The focus is decidely on food, but there will be some beer brewed onsite in a small three-barrel brewing system. "It's really cool," says Daemon Jefferies, head of packaging at Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. "The food is really good. They have one of the best burgers I have ever had."The new space offers two floors of seating for up to 160 people indoors, including two bar areas and a room in the back for private parties. There will also be a roof-top deck and patio area with additional seating. The deck is set to open later this fall.The locally famous microbrew's Dexter operations are for production only. Most craft breweries combine both a restaurant and production brewery. There are plans to add a tap room to the Dexter facility later this year to accommodate tourists who want see where most of the beer is brewed. Source: Daemon Jefferies, head of packaging at Jolly Pumpkin Artisan AlesWriter: Jon Zemke
Susan Hardin and her new employees are just starting to peel back the layers of Media Onion.The Dexter-based company provides online conference management services, and is in the midst of a product redesign. That has forced Hardin to change from a one-person consulting firm to employing three people, with plans to add interns this fall. More hires are likely as the 6-year-old start-up prepares to launch its new product in January."I'd like to keep it small but there is a lot of room for development," Hardin says.The Dexter resident was inspired to start the company when she was working for the University of Michigan and couldn't find a program to help her manage conferences. She created her own program and has since turned it into her full-time job."The excel spreadsheet method just wasn't working," Hardin says.She now provides these services to the university and other customers. That client list is expected to grow next year with the debut of the new product. Hardin also expects to add some support and marketing staff, along with other personnel, within the next year, too.Source: Susan Hardin, CEO and owner of Media OnionWriter: Jon Zemke
The Dexter Pharmacy is angling for a new multi-purpose home in the village.Dexter-based A.R. Brouwer is proposing to build an 22,000-square-foot multi-use building on Baker Road. The 2-story building would replace the old Color Box site.The first floor would feature retail space for the pharmacy. The second floor would be dedicated to office space.The Village Council is considering the proposal and needs to sign off on it before construction can begin.Source: Allison Bishop, assistant village manager for DexterWriter: Jon Zemke
Akasha Crystals has come a long ways since Adam Kasha started selling aquarium rocks from the back of his car while going to school at the University of Michigan.That was in 1988, when he took a $5,000 loan from his parents and paid his rent late to go into business. Today, Akasha Crystals, soon to become Akasha US Inc., is a $20 million company, growing and moving into One North Main building in downtown Ann Arbor. The new space is meant to serve as the launching pad for some big growth."It's really time for us to spread our wings," says Adam Kasha, president and founder of Akasha Crystals. "We have been building up and now is the time."The company, which sells aquarium rocks to the likes of Target and Pier One, employs about 20 people, has a separate Chinese arm and uses three third-party warehouses in Ann Arbor, Dexter, and California. It will occupy the entire third floor of the One North Main Building, along with some extra storage space on the fourth floor.This is the first time One North Main, 101 N Main St, has been full. The 11-story high-rise has gone through a number of owners since it was built in 1989. The mixed-use building houses retail space on the first floor, office space on the middle levels, and residential overlooking the corner of Main Street and Huron Avenue above that.Akasha Crystals had already been located in downtown and had three showrooms spread across the area. The move to One North Main allows it to unify its products into one showroom, along with conference rooms and offices for each employee. Akasha Crystals expects to grow into the space as it marches toward becoming a $50 million firm within the next few years."We could double the staff of the company," Kasha says.Source: Adam Kasha, president and founder of Akasha CrystalsWriter: Jon Zemke
The Washtenaw County Land Bank is about to become a reality within the next few weeks. The county treasurer, Catherine McClary, is pushing the paperwork forward to make it official by September. Properties could be put back on tax rolls as early as October.Land banks are becoming the governmental tool du jour to handle blighted and abandoned buildings remaining from the foreclosure crisis. Genesee County has turned its land bank into a nationally recognized tool to right-size the shrinking metropolitan Flint area. It is advising Washtenaw County on setting up its own land bank.The new land bank will host two public meetings in September on what type of policies it will employ and how it will be incorporated. It will carry a seven-member board that will create the bylaws, articles of incorporation and policies in September.The board will include the Washtenaw County Treasurer and Sheriff, a representative from the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, the mayors of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, the supervisor of Ypsilanti Township, and the supervisor of one of the county's western townships.Source: Catherine McClary, Washtenaw County TreasurerWriter: Jon Zemke
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales is happy to announce an expansion into downtown Ann Arbor. The Dexter-based microbrew plans to take over the old Peppers bar space at 311 S Main St. The idea is to open a eatery side to the business, complementing its traditional production facilities in Dexter."It's an additional unit we're adding," says Ron Jefferies, owner, founder and brewer of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. "It's a restaurant with a small brewery but most of the beer is coming from Dexter."The locally famous microbrew's Dexter operations are for production only. Most craft breweries combine both a restaurant and production brewery. Jefferies plans to add a tap room to the Dexter facility later this year to accommodate tourists who want see where most of the beer is brewed. The Ann Arbor location is set to open in mid September. Jeffries choose downtown Ann Arbor for its vibrancy and how it has become the area's primary dinning destination."It's really about location and downtown Ann Arbor is a great location for a restaurant," Jeffries says.Source: Ron Jeffries, owner, founder and brewer of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan AlesWriter: Jon Zemke
Dexter Village officials are starting to line up and knock down grants to build the Mill Creek Park.The village recently nailed down a $48,000 grant that requires a $48,000 match. It also applied for about $1 million more in grants, including a competitive, $500,000 Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund grant. Decisions on these grants are expected to be handed down by the holiday season. The village is planning to spend $5 million to develop the Mill Creek Park along the west side of downtown over a number of years. The first phase of that plan, designed by Ann Arbor-based JJR, could begin construction as early as next year.The park will run alongside approximately one mile of the east bank of Mill Creek between Warrior Creek Park and Shield Road. It will be integrated into the city's proposed river walk, highlighting the section of Mill Creek that borders downtown.The idea behind the park is to open up the creek to more village residents and downtown patrons. The creek has turned into a mud-filled pond over the years as the old damn under the Main Street bridge has aged. The Washtenaw County Road Commission is tearing out that damn, rebuilding the bridge and the creek.Source: Courtney Nicholls, spokeswoman for the village of DexterWriter: Jon Zemke
Just about all that is left to do on the Dexter's Main Street Bridge is fasten some handrails and put a bow on it. The village-that-wants-to-be-a-city will soon have a nice new shiny gift from the Washtenaw County Road Commission."Everybody seems happy with the way the bridge turned out," says Aaron Berkholz, construction superintendent with the Washtenaw County Road Commission. "It's much better than the dilapidated bridge that had been there."That bridge had fallen into such disrepair that even its pot holes had pot holes. More importantly, the 100-year-old dam beneath it had stopped functioning as it was intended. The road commission ripped out the dam last year, restoring the tributary of the Huron River to its original state of semi-fast rapids and making way for a new riverside park on the edge of downtown.Road Commission workers finished up the work this spring. Even grass is growing alongside the new bridge. They expect to wrap up the last detail or two of work in early July, provided the weather cooperates.The new $2.5 million bridge accommodates both motorized and non-motorized traffic. There are still two-lanes for cars, along with bike lanes and sidewalks for pedestrians.Source: Aaron Berkholz, construction superintendent with the Washtenaw County Road CommissionWriter: Jon Zemke
Sometimes the sirens call for strategic partnerships is too strong to keep companies where they were founded. Not so with the Dexter Research Center.The 31-year-old firm has renewed its lease on life by choosing to expand in its hometown, a move that will lead to 47 new jobs in the next five years. The defense contractor has strategic partnerships in Ohio and Massachusetts that were wooing the firm away from Michigan. A $313,000 state tax credit over seven years helped quiet them."We have always been here in Michigan," says Cory Ziegler, controller of the Dexter Research Center. "We enjoy being here."The Dexter Research Center manufactures infrared thin-film thermopile and silicon detectors used in the automotive, oil and military industries. It's also working on new products in what will be the $3 million expansion the firm plans to undertake. "The last couple of years we have had some good growth but we realized we need more products," Ziegler says.The Dexter Research Center employs 58 people and has 4-5 positions open right now. It expects to hire another 2-3 people on top of those by the end of the year. Source: Cory Ziegler, controller of the Dexter Research CenterWriter: Jon Zemke
Our Partners
