Mongolian BBQ, salon, bakery set up shop in Ypsilanti

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 | Source: Concentrate

The kitchen for downtown Ypsilanti's new Mongolian BBQ has been installed, and is yet another sign of how businesses are flocking to the city's downtown and Depot Town districts.

J Neil's Mongolian Grille will occupy most of the ground floor of the Kresge Building, one of downtown's first loft conversions. That restaurant is set to open by the end of the month.

"We're very excited about it," says Eric Maurer, an Ypsilanti developer in charge of the building.

The Keystone Martini Bar, which will occupy the basement of 200 W Michigan Ave., is set to open up later this year. Maurer is also rehabbing the Mack & Mack building in downtown, which will house Ann Arbor SPARK's East Incubator for small business. That space is expected to be done by the end of the year with lofts above it finished by next summer.

Also joining this retail round up is the Thomas Blondi Salon on 36 N Huron St. It will occupy the ground floor of an old 19th Century hotel that most recently served as the home to a dance studio. Dwight Thomas, the salon's owner, expects to have the 1,800 square feet ready to go by the first week of November.

"I wanted to be in the heart of Ypsilanti," Thomas says. "I wanted to give back to Ypsilanti, which is where I grew up."

Next door the Old World Bakery is also holding its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday morning. The bakery moved into the space earlier this year to take advantage of the up-and-coming business district dominated by small businesses in downtown.

Source: Eric Maurer, co-owner of Mauerer Management and Dwight Thomas, owner of Thomas Blondi Salon
Writer: Jon Zemke

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