Another gathering spot will top off Ypsilanti's Depot Town once
The Crossroad's Bar & Grill adds a rooftop deck using $11,000 in grant proceeds from the city's building façade and rehabilitation program. Once city approvals have been received, the deck addition work could begin in September and be open to the public by early October, according to owner Jesse Thomason.
Thomason says he has been working on The Crossroad's property at 515-519 W. Cross St. for two years now. A previous project included purchasing the adjacent Magazine Rack, a former adult novelty bookstore, and converting it into a live music hall with pool tables and seating. The rooftop deck idea arose because "we have an outdoor service permit on our liquor license, but the city doesn't recognize our backyard as a business zone," he explains.
He expects the deck to be about 1,200 square feet with a seating capacity of 50-75. About 75% of the area is to be covered, and the rest open-air. Heat poles would keep the deck comfortable during cooler fall weather. "I'd like to get at least six or seven months [use] out of it every year."
The Crossroad's has a staff of five, and Thomason is readying to add two more employees shortly. He may hire two more in September, and then "if the deck goes through, I'd be able to bring on at least anywhere between five and eight new positions, which would stay on even when the deck is closed because there's going to be lots of events here in the future."
Source: Jesse Thomason, owner of The Crossroad's Bar & Grill
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
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