After 120 years of service, the Michigan Ladder Company in Ypsilanti has closed. Owner Tom Harrison announced the closure of the longtime ladder manufacturer in a Facebook post on April 8. The business struggled with the twists and turns of the COVID pandemic. From state-ordered closures to supply chain struggles, the local business decided it was time to close.
Bookbound Bookstore will also be permanently closing this summer, most likely in late June or early July. The bookstore on Plymouth Road has been considering closing the doors for a few years. The decision was made for personal reasons and has nothing to do with their lease or the pandemic. The family-owned business is looking forward to focusing on their family, friends, and everything else they’ve set aside to share their love of books with the community.Â
Optimum Fitness Training has opened its doors at 4477 Jackson Road. The latest gym in the area offers personal training of all ages, boxing classes, weight loss training, strength training, and more. A new membership package is set to launch sometime in May, so be sure to keep your eyes open! 4477 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor. 734-210-0951. optimumfitnesstraining.com.Â
Indian/Asian fusion restaurant, Qmin, is scheduled to open in early June. This restaurant will be serving flavors that bring together the tastes of Indian cuisine and popular flavors from across Asia. You’ll be able to enjoy Thai, Korean, and Chinese spices and ingredients throughout the menu. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for when this delicious restaurant opens up. 619 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. 734-263-2142. qminfusion.com.Â
Looking for a good ceramic art studio? Yourist Studio Gallery will soon be moving to Jackson Road! They’ll be leaving Lowertown, where they have been offering pottery classes, workspaces for ceramic artists, a ceramics tool shop, and a gallery exhibiting the works of potters and other outstanding artists. Summer art classes will be debuting at the new studio on Saturday, June 5. 6087 Jackson Rd. Suite 200, Ann Arbor. 734-662-4914. youristpottery.com.
Local consignment clothing shop Top Drawer is under new management. The store briefly closed at the end of February but reopened in mid-April with new owners, Alicia Frenette and Brittany Tobias. The store plans to carry the same brands as before, but there will be more of a focus on business-casual and activewear clothing, which has become popular during the pandemic.1960 S. Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor. 734-994-4646. topdrawera2.com.Â
Greg Wilson and his wife, Sheena Wilson, will be taking over local nursery Lodi Farms. Greg, who started his career as a landscape contractor, will be combining his landscaping business with the nursery. Extensive updates have been made to the property to address the latest change of hands. The business plans to be open for six Sundays in May and June to accommodate the height of spring planting. 2880 S. Wagner RD., Ann Arbor. 734-665-5651. lodifarms.com.Â
Michigan’s first outdoor beer garden, Bill’s Beer Garden, has changed management. The transition was finalized in mid-March, and the business is now run by Scot Greig. Public records indicate Greig is also the owner of Necto, a local dance club in Downtown Ann Arbor. At this time, no major changes are planned for Bill’s Beer Garden. 218 S. Ashley St., Ann Arbor. 734-369-8001. billsbeergarden.com.Â
Related
- April 2021 Biz Buzz
- Ladies First: Local Women-Owned Businesses You Should Know
- Support Black-Owned Businesses in Washtenaw County
