Brewery in Ann Arbor. Kinda OT
Ok people. Long time no post. I've been busy, but a question for you: If there was a new brewery opening in Ann Arbor, where would you want it to be? Think "Hockeytown", but M-Themed. Something with a Schembeckler Stout and a Woodson White Ale. Somewhere with eleventy billion flat screens to watch games before and after heading to Michigan Stadium. Somewhere not to tailgate, but to belly-up to the bar pre and post game.
I'm thinking South state Street, like around that hot tub place. Please give me feedback, it may be made so in a few years.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:18 PM ^
the location where Leopold Bros. used to be (Main Street down the hill after Packard intersection). Why oh why did it have to go away!
That would be a great location for pre / post game activity (and they may still have the brewing apparatus there).
August 29th, 2009 at 7:33 PM ^
They moved out of state, I believe.
Leopold Bros was pretty good. Not the greatest, but pretty good. Watched Michigan/OSU '06 there, and used to frequent it pretty often while I was still in undergrad.
August 29th, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
They moved to Denver, or somewhere very close. The way I recall the story is that the landlords jacked up the rent by a few hundred percent and Leopold Bro's said peace out.
August 29th, 2009 at 8:57 PM ^
Leopold Brothers had a great location, an amazing, unique space, and average to poor microbrews. You'll notice since moving to Denver (home of about 100 world-class breweries) they are focusing almost exclusively on their spirits, as there's no way they could cut it in one of the top 3 beer places in the country.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:22 PM ^
I drank the beer at Leopold because it was cheaper then water on some nights. Their gin, however, is the best damn gin I've ever had. Since they moved to Denver, I can pick bottle up here in Wyoming if the right people are talked to.
August 30th, 2009 at 8:58 AM ^
BEST DAMN GIN I've ever had. I HATED gin until giving Leopold's a try (bad memories of a fifth of tangueray being downed around a bonfire in the mountains of Romania). The gin was as close to some of the awesome "genever" I had in the Netherlands--stuff that is not sold in the U.S.
I miss sipping my gin n' marrionberry n' tonic during the late games...
August 30th, 2009 at 2:54 AM ^
Their liquors/liqueurs were nothing to write home about, either.
I just enjoyed the vibe. THE VIBE.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:26 PM ^
As a current student I would suggest as close to the campus/main street area as possible. Those are both walking distance and in good areas to go to. The hot tub area you are talking about are virtually impossible for students to get to walking and very few of us have cars to drive there. Although the properties I am suggesting probably will cost more, I believe the better location will lead to more customers.
August 29th, 2009 at 8:42 PM ^
Yeah I would think you would want downtown in the Main street area. State street is more of the college crowd and I think you would lose the fine beer vs. cheap beer debate with the majority of the students. That said there are already two in the main street area ABC and Grizzly peak. Not sure if the market would support another. Leopold went under, but I am not sure if they served food as well? I would think you would need a kitchen support the revenue.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:27 PM ^
The guy that owns Dominick's owns some of the adjacent residential properties, and has been trying to get them rezoned for a while so they can be used for commercial ventures. I'm not saying it's necessarily the best option, but something to consider.
August 29th, 2009 at 11:04 PM ^
I actually wrote a paper on this for a class. A great location is where Artisan Bakery was, across from Campus Corner.
This would be a great in-between area from the South U and Main Street bars. In addition, it would get a HUGE amount of traffic during the football, hockey, and basketball seasons, as almost every student has to walk by this area to get to the athletic campus, and there is really no other bar near there (Quickie Burger doesn't count).
My friends and I have fantasized about it (we're fairly active homebrewers). I've even done some preliminary research into the funds needed and where to located a used 5-7 bbl system. The 'looking for investors' part got as far as me pussying out about asking my parents for money.
Oh, and FYI, the reason Leopold's went under was not from lack of business. They actually had a steadily increasing amount of business. They left Ann Arbor because their landlord had tripled their rent in the last 2 years, and there are a bunch of really lame laws in Michigan about selling your brew/liquor and they didn't feel like dealing with it anymore so they moved to CO so they could sell to a larger base.
Remember, they were famous for their Vodka and Gin (both being award winning), not so much their beer. While I certainly enjoyed their beer, it was little more than 'average' from a aficionado's standpoint. The best part of Leopold's was playing Sorry on Sunday nights with a couple of $2 pints...
Oh, in addition, Jolly Pumpkin Brewery (Dexter, MI) is opening a Tap House on Main Street right next to MDen that should be open in less than a month. Many of you know that JP is owned by the same investment group as Grizzly Peak, Cafe Habana, Blue Tractor, and North Peak in Traverse City, just to name a few.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:10 AM ^
Thanks for info on Jolly Pumpkin--they have great stuff.
I think Packard/State is an awesome location due to proximity to Yost as well as Michigan Stadium. As a hockey season ticketholder who drives into AA for each game, I know that I would spend a ton of money at a location within walking distance of Yost that had food, beer, TVs and (usable) toilets. Remember, it is often 20-40 degrees in the winter, and that spot would be a great meeting place before heading to the game and close enough to wait out the post-game traffic.
Do NOT underestimate the importance of parking. This is the State of Michigan-people will walk to a place, but there needs to be an assurance of parking within a 5 minute-walk radius. This location does not offer ANY parking-it's probably the worst business district in Ann Arbor for parking, actually. You cannot survive with an upscale place (i.e., anything fancier than Rick's) without attracting non-students; you need parking for that.
Shameful as it may sound, some of my favorite "tailgating" moments were spent at Leopold Bros. No, it's not tailgating at all. But after years of spectacularly huge/expensive tailgates, my buddy (former UM roomie) and I decided to just start meeting at Leopold Bros. instead of putting on a tailgate. AND WE WERE NEVER HAPPIER. Parking for games was $20-30 across the street (on asphalt--not wet sod). The walk was equal (or shorter) from Golf Course. Beer was cheap and good, liquor was awesome, food was above average, plenty of seating, outdoor area...it all added up to everything we wanted. Plus we could camp out there after the UM game and watch as much football as we wanted. It was also a great starting point for a night of downtown AA frivolity.
I miss you, Leopold Bros.
August 29th, 2009 at 11:33 PM ^
I never thought that the Leo. Bros. location was very good. It was very isolated where it was located.
The old Atlanta Brad Co. location at Packard and State, across the street from Campus Corner and Blue Front would be intriguing given the large number of off-campus houses and apartments near the athletic campus. My concern would be that a couple of restaurants have died in that location and to think that you would be more successful is highly optimistic. (Granted, none of the restaurants in that location were bars.)
My belief is that you want to me near main and washington and just offer a better product/experience than Grizzly or ABC. So find a guy with deep pockets who is a killer operator and hope for the best.
Also, Ninja, learn how to spell Bo's last name... There's no "k"
August 30th, 2009 at 6:34 PM ^
Nice catch MJV. I'd been drinking for about 4 hours already when I made this post, but still can't believe I did that. I look like such a rookie!
August 29th, 2009 at 11:41 PM ^
The old Leopold location at least had a few parking spaces, and in the evening you could park across the street in the lot next to the law firm. The Packard and State area is a difficult place to find parking, especially when the students are back in town and the local streets are parked full.
August 30th, 2009 at 1:10 AM ^
You're right, the Packard / State area is terrible for parking. I lived near there for three years, I should have remembered that.
Thinking about the restaurants that are successful in that area, they are basically cheap college eats. If you are looking for something that is more upscale, you are going to have a very difficult time getting a crowd that can spend a few extra bucks on premium beer and food (i.e. not college students) because of the parking and the lack of anything else that would draw your desired crowd.
I think that you're looking at Main Street as your best location. Lots of parking and a density of people that are willing to spend more for a better product.
August 30th, 2009 at 2:19 AM ^
The businesses between Best Buy and Kohls keep bottoming out. That would be an excellent spot in terms of parking and proximity to the Stadium. Tons of room. Lots of traffic there on gameday, but that could be a good thing...?
August 30th, 2009 at 8:49 AM ^
putting a bar in a stripmall is the one sure guarentee that I will NEVER go there.