Ypsi new business roundup: Mexican cuisine, tropical coffee lounge, and Indian buffet

On the Ground Ypsilanti is an “embedded journalism” program covering the city and township of Ypsilanti. It is supported by Ann Arbor SPARK, the Center for Health and Research Transformation, Destination Ann Arbor, Eastern Michigan University, Engage @ EMU, Washtenaw Community College, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Washtenaw ISD.

José Vasquez and Veronica Cabrera’s restaurant La Chona, 531 W. Cross St. in Ypsilanti, represents a first leap into restaurant ownership, realized just six months ago. Though La Chona is the married couple’s first restaurant, Vasquez studied cooking and previously worked in food preparation at the University of Michigan. He’s long aspired to open his own restaurant, and he says Ypsi felt like the right place to begin.

“Opening a new business was my idea, and the city of Ypsi has been helping me out,” Vasquez says. “The work is not easy, but the restaurant is working. Love Ypsi.”

La Chona, open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily, has quickly built a loyal following. Vasquez says customers have responded enthusiastically to the menu, especially the huaraches – thick masa bases topped with meats and other traditional ingredients.

“Huaraches, everyone is asking about it,” he says. While burritos may feel more familiar to some diners, Vasquez says guests are eager to try a range of dishes. 

“Anything on my menu is good,” he laughs, adding that he’s both the restaurant’s owner and its main cook. Cabrera runs La Chona’s front of house. 

Vasquez says he would encourage other entrepreneurs to consider Ypsi not only for its affordability but for its sense of belonging. He recalls traveling out of state over the holidays and realizing how much he missed home.

“The best people are here in Ypsi,” he says. “Everyone is very respectful. It’s beautiful here.”

A few blocks away in Depot Town, Ohana Lounge has carved out its own niche as a tropical-inspired coffee lounge at 11 E. Cross St. Owner Darius Smith opened the business last year after years of working in home renovation and marketing. He often found himself working from coffee shops, where he began imagining a space that could serve multiple purposes throughout the day.

“It felt like there was a gap in the market, not just in Ypsi but in general, for a themed coffee spot,” Smith says. “I wanted this place to have a theme, and I thought a Hawaiian theme, tropical vibe, would be cool.”

The result is a café that operates from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and is designed to shift in energy as the day progresses. 

“If you come and do your work, you can kick back and relax,” Smith says. “The ultimate goal and thought was that at a certain point in the day, it transitions into a hangout spot.”

Ohana Lounge hosts DJs, community events, and a podcast studio that residents can use to record their own shows. The back of the building hosts Smith’s other endeavor: Food Folks Fun, a podcast network focusing on local creators and businesses. Smith says customers have embraced Ohana Lounge’s atmosphere and menu.

“It’s been received really well,” he says. “The biggest thing for me in designing the space is that people picked up the vibe that I wanted them to get. They love the ambience and they love the products.”

Smith has been deliberate about sourcing local products, serving Zingerman’s products and partnering with Dom Bakeries for pastries. He also serves smoothies, salads, and popular items like a coconut cold brew and a salmon lox bagel. Beyond the menu, Smith says Ypsi’s business community has been a major factor in his success. He serves on the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority marketing committee and collaborates with other Depot Town businesses on collective promotions.

“We’re feeling the love and the support,” he says.

For entrepreneurs weighing where to open a new business, Smith says Ypsi offers both opportunity and inclusivity.

“The local support that we get as a business in Ypsi is part of it, and the opportunity,” he says, adding that startup costs can be more manageable than in neighboring cities. “You get a little bit more for your buck.”

Equally important, he says, is the city’s inclusive culture.

“I’m a Black man, and I get support like everyone else,” Smith says. “Ypsi embraces people for who and where they are.”

That emphasis on community also drew Earthen Jar to add an Ypsi location last fall on top of its popular original Ann Arbor location. The new vegetarian Indian restaurant, located at 406 W. Michigan Ave., is open from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Owner Sim Sethi says the decision to open a second location was driven in part by customers who had relocated to Ypsi.

“We’ve always loved Ypsi,” Sethi says. “We noticed that a lot of our customers had shifted and moved there, and we wanted to expand anyway and try something closer to our customers.”

Earthen Jar’s roots trace back to Sethi’s mother, who first opened a vegetarian restaurant years ago in Canada. 

“She didn’t want to sit idle in her retirement, and it was a big success,” he says.

Since opening in Ypsi, Sethi says the community reception has been strong. 

“We had a great turnout when we opened up,” he says. While winter months were slower, he feels that even more hungry community members will stop by the buffet as spring arrives. 

“The feedback is so good. People are so excited to have us here. There is a great positive feeling from the community,” he says.

He adds that neighboring business owners have introduced themselves and offered support.

“That’s what I think about Ypsi is the best: we’re very community-driven,” he says. “Our neighbors talk to us and talk to their neighbors. They know people by name, which is so amazing.”

The restaurant’s buffet format allows customers to sample a variety of dishes, many of them vegan, including Sethi’s personal favorite: sag dal, a creamy and mild mix of spinach and chickpeas. 

“It’s a buffet, so you can try a little bit of everything,” Sethi says.

He also points to city support as a factor in the expansion. 

“The city is very helpful. I’ve worked with Elize Jekabson at the DDA, who has been amazing in guiding us and other potential businesses,” he says. “The community itself will support you also.”

From a first-time restaurateur on Cross Street to a themed café in Depot Town and a longtime Ann Arbor staple expanding westward, Vasquez, Smith, and Sethi all cite the same key ingredient in their success: a community willing to show up for them. For Vasquez, that support is reason enough to stay.

“Ypsi is the best for me,” he says.