OT: Favorite Local Businesses That No Longer Exist? (AA or Elsewhere)
Hey everyone! Figured the MGoBlog community is just the type of place that would love this...
I have a friend who recently opened a new branch of his t-shirt company exclusively dedicated to commemorating defunct local businesses, whether it be restaurants, stores, movie theaters, arcades, rinks, ballparks/arenas/stadiums — you name it.
So...curious to hear what everyone's favorites are? Whether it's a nostalgic place you remember from your hometown or a place you frequented in your college days, shout em out! He might even cook up some shirt designs for you to order.
NOTE: It MUST be a local business that is no longer in operation. There are already great ways to buy gear supporting current Ann Arbor businesses, including a sponsor of this site. Seth's Ann Arbor Institutions series from Fall of 2020 (and the shirts that came with it) was some of my favorite stuff the blog has ever produced. This is just for the ghosts of Ann Arbor business past!
Thano, the owner of Thano's, was quite generous to the basketball players. Interpret that any way you want and you're right.
Prisms II Furniture on Main. Art Losse, the owner, treated my and my buddy well as delivery workers and general muscle, so I was making $12/hour back then when most of my buddies were flipping burgers for $3.35.
Art was an ultimate character who, over just a couple years, gave me and my buddy a lifetime of stories to laugh about over and over.
Oh, and the furniture was top-notch, too.
Village Bell and Satellite Burger on South U. Liberty Inn - best local dive bar in Ann Arbor.
In Ann Arbor, Flipper McGee's and the Crosseyed Moose.
I used to go between Mickey Rat's and Focus almost every day, also going around the corner to the Eye of Agamotto to get the newest comic books. Those were the days ...
Rod's Diner on State Street. Used to be run by Rod and his wife. They'd be open until 11 or 12 most nights and their frozen yogurt "colliders" were a treat. The place that's there now still makes colliders, but Rod is long gone, as are the photos on the wall.
Ron's Roadside BBQ outside of Ann Arbor on Pontiac Trail. Best ribs in the area.
They closed permanently around COVID. The property is currently pending sale... sigh.
Olga's. Steve's "Korean Authentic Cuisine". Red Hot Lover's. Angelo's. I haven't been back in A2 for 10+ years, but I am happy to hear Mr Spot's, Jerusalem Garden and Backroom Pizza are still in business.
Here's one of those requests. Angelo's is still going but this will be its final year in business, so visit it while you can!
STEVE'S LUNCH, AA: https://www.hometownvintagetees.com/product-page/steve-s-lunch-ann-arbor-mi
Two clear choices for me. China Gate and Westside BBQ. The kung pao chicken lunch special was incredible, and competition style ribs that stacked up with ribs from all the major bbq cities from across the country. It’s a shame neither of them are open anymore.
Russ’ restaurant, my first job. Westmain in Kalamazoo. Not enough old Dutch people to keep that place open, tips sucked, again because of the Dutch!
Still plenty of Russ' locations around GR/Holland/Muskegon. Same menu, for the most part, as when I started going there 40 plus years ago.
China Gate ("Chef Jan Winner Best Chef Award Washington D.C.") and Bicycle Jims were two of my absolute favorites on South U., with Village Corner and Pizzeria Uno's in the running.
Orange Julius, less so. Yuck.
Bell's Pizza
Double Focus
Bev's Caribbean Kitchen
Dinersty
Video Watch
Drake's
Fielder's Choice (in Nickels Arcade)
Dang, I read the first three pages of responses and didn't see Dinersty...and then I saw this after I posted! Good stuff!
Here's one of those. Again, more to come!
DRAKE'S SANDWICH SHOP, AA: https://www.hometownvintagetees.com/product-page/drake-s-sandwich-shop-ann-arbor-mi?fbclid=IwAR39hcbiN8V09wsVk0kBVaRvYNQpl6rQVSvVv_wu4a6pglNtcZ9sSGcFM2E
Harmony House!
Also, for anyone that lived in Texas in the late 70's/early 80's: Taco Plaza
I think Taco Casa replaced Taco Plaza.
Sugar Loaf Ski Resort near Cedar/Maple City
Nay's Bamboo Kitchen in Alma, MI. Still the best Chinese takeout I've ever had. Basically the only reason I used to come home during college
I read all the record store stuff here but we were so broke we drove out to Redford to Korvettes Discount Dept Store for records. Way cheaper than any regular record store. I think it closed in the late 70’s/early 80’s.
Does anyone know the story of Express Pizza Express (that's what we called it) that operated out of Dooley's? Opened as Pizza Express (or was it the other way around?) and seemed to be in business for like a week, then it shut down for a week or so. Reopened as Express Pizza (or vice-versa?). Cheap pizza, but good enough at the price, so we didn't have to splurge on Cottage Inn unless we were in the mood to.
Borders was my favorite store.
Nobody else agrees with me, but there used to be a Chinese place called Dinersty that had really good General Tzo's Chicken and Hunan Chicken.
I also liked taking dates to Macaroni Grill.
Chez Crepe
Quality Bakery
Two staples from my family’s visits to Ann Arbor in the early 80s
Flim Flam at the Plymouth road mall and Big Boy anywhere.
Going to break the rules - I miss the downtown (Washington & 4th) location of Metzgers. The food's still great, the family is still awesome, and the tchotchkes are all still there, but the Zeeb Rd. experience just doesn't hit the same as when it was downtown. Still worth the trip out 94.
+1 for the word, tchotchkes.