Ypsilanti: Growing in the Winter

12 December 2011

Ypsilanti, MI.

This is Ypsilanti. Here the summer and fall have pulled to a faithless halt and winter finally begins to freeze its way into our bones. You’ll walk down Michigan Ave., possibly holding a lovers hand, the wind will blow, batter your jacket and tighten your ribs violently. As you squeeze a hand, hoping for added warmth, look around you and notice change. Be bold enough to observe what you see with a passionate and critical mind. What reveals itself is a city that has found, even amongst the economic ruin of Michigan, a way to grow and the spirit to flourish once more.

Up and down the four to five blocks of Michigan Ave. that make up downtown Ypsilanti the essence of innovation and the vivacity of entrepreneurship can be felt.

There are the ever-present “Coming Soon” signs in windows between Dos Hermanos and Abe’s, which never feel very assuring, but remind everyone that change might one day come.

Continuing the walk towards the frigid Huron you will soon pass Eastern Michigan’s College of Business. The grounds are mostly occupied by the large green glass building but are quietly laced with narrow sidewalks and hidden courtyards. Take your time walking through and then wander across Adams St.

It is here at number four that you will find the recently opened Fatou African Caribbean Market. This unique market offers an experience similar to what would be found down the street at Dos Hermanos, specializing in African/Caribbean goods rather than Mexican fare.

Less than a minute away and across Michigan Ave. is B-52’s Espresso Bar at two-seventeen. Having taken over the space that was once Bombadill’s Coffee House, B-52’s serves a variety of caffeinated drinks and teatime like foods.

A notable change coming soon to Ypsilanti is the Red Rock barbeque, moving into 207-209. Renovations to the former TC’s Speakeasy spot promise a new and interesting environment, one that captures the historic value as well as the aesthetic of downtown Ypsilanti. Residents and visitors can expect it to open sometime in late 2011.

Take your walk down Washington, heading toward Déjà Vu. The street is sadly deprived of businesses, like the former Pub 13 and Best Damn. The irreproachable close of these businesses and others like it has left Washington feeling bitter and empty of late. However, today on your walk, you should notice Beezy’s at twenty, nearly kitty-corner and to the south of Déjà Vu. Beezy’s offers a café style atmosphere with a food menu and daily specials that hope to lure you down the street for more wholesome reasons.

On the north side of Michigan Ave., as you continue your stroll through downtown, you will notice a series of major renovations being done on several of the buildings. Indeed your observations would not be incorrect. The north side, just east of Washington St., has been undergoing changes for some while now. Most notable among these is the vibrant red rocket signage of The Rocket, a novelty and candy shop. Next-door to The Rocket is Herbal Solutions a medical marijuana dispensary that combines the aesthetic of a high security bank and an upscale spa. Look across the street to see the Model Cave, soon to open, it will carry all degrees of models when it opens.

Around the corner, to the north, on Huron you will see the relatively new bar Smarty Catz at number sixteen Huron. This establishment offers the usual fare with a cozy bar and connected dining room.

Renovations are happening all over downtown Ypsilanti and you might have to dodge scaffolding here and there where an apartment is being repainted or new windows are being put in. At the east end of downtown several renovations are underway at one-twenty-six and one-twenty Michigan Ave. The apartments above one-twenty, one-twenty-two and one-twenty-four are also all receiving a face lift all their own. Soon these spaces will open up to residents or people seeking relocation. Hopefully, the added faces and bodies will make downtown Ypsi feel and become more alive.

If you’ve been absolutely lucky you may have been lightly snowed on while Christmas lights danced on snowflakes, maybe you stopped for a drink at Tap Room or Haab’s and watched it slowly fall. But whether you are or are not lucky, this is Ypsilanti, and somehow you still managed to have a good time. Δ John Fenton

 

John Fenton , Ypsilanti resident and downtown native, writes for Piper Partners, leaders in Ann Arbor real estate.