Old Ritz Camera building finally goes up for sale in Ann Arbor

The long-empty Ritz Camera building in downtown Ann Arbor is taking its first step toward rebirth now that it is finally up for sale.

The 2-story structure at 318 S State, near Stucci’s Ice Cream, was recently put on the market as part of the Ritz Camera's bankruptcy, which is selling five other locations across the U.S. Hilco Real Estate is marketing the property. It did not return repeated calls for comment over several days.

The building was built in 1934 and
originally served as the home of McLean's Groceries. The brick building was surrounded by a number of other structures that served as the homes of major downtown businesses, such as Jacobson's.

In recent years it ran on a skeleton staff, stuck in a legal limbo where the owner grappled with more pressing issues. It closed down this spring and has become one of the most glaring vacancies and opportunities on South State Street.

Source: City of Ann Arbor and Hilco Real Estate
Writer: Jon Zemke
Enjoy this story? Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.