Crazy Jim's Widow Sells, Blimpy's Must Move.
Ann Arbor.com, HT Andrew Fine.
"Krazy" Jim Shafer was the longtime owner of Blimpy's. Today it's owned and operated by Rich Magner but Jim's widow sold the property (including my mother's house in college) to the university.
They're not going to close but they have to move:
“I don’t know what the plans are,” Magner said. “But basically, in a nutshell, we will be able to operate in this location into summer 2013 and we will be trying to put a deal together and look for a new location.” Magner worked at Blimpy Burger in 1969 when he was a student. After working in other restaurants, he returned to Blimpy Burger and purchased the business in 1993.
Finding a place on campus is gonna be tough. For anyone who ever lived on the south side of campus, having the answer to your hangover just a few blocks away was the most important thing.
December 6th, 2012 at 7:43 PM ^
Speaking of places closing and Drake's, does anyone know where the old Drake's booths went? They were in Chocolate House for a bit, but now thats closed too.
December 6th, 2012 at 7:51 PM ^
sorry...
December 6th, 2012 at 7:48 PM ^
They have ones almost as bad at the "new" Metzger's... Sad about Dave Brubeck's passing. Always had good jazz tunes at Drake's...Excuse me, I'm getting verklempt.
December 6th, 2012 at 8:15 PM ^
And chocolate milk.
My poor roommates in a converted triple freshman year probably still remember "the morning after" my trips to Blimpys.
Same food, different place? Still fucking wrong.
December 6th, 2012 at 8:15 PM ^
and how about Steve's lunch counter on South U, now gone away. Two of the finest anti-hangover places on the planet.
December 6th, 2012 at 10:11 PM ^
.... don't forget Taco Bobs and Lil Chef Greek restaurant
December 7th, 2012 at 1:01 AM ^
I lived down the street from Steve's. Go to hangover food every Saturday and/or Sunday morning.
December 6th, 2012 at 8:59 PM ^
the fleetwood diner in that trailor still exists i think. i would have thought that would have been bulldozed many years ago.
December 6th, 2012 at 9:07 PM ^
For me it was a quint, bacon, egg, provolone, onion roll, lettuce, onion, tomato, dijon, ketchup. Also had to have the fried veggies with cocktail sauce and a root beer. I must have a strong stomach because I never had digestive issues eating this once a week.
December 6th, 2012 at 10:13 PM ^
..too - this is a must stop in our annual pilgrimage to AA-Damn ....need to find them a new home
December 6th, 2012 at 11:02 PM ^
I just took my seven year old son there for the first time this season. He thought it was perfectly reasonable to wait in line 45 minutes for the burger he got. I had another generation converted.
His was a double with cheese and ketchup, mine was a triple with bacon, egg, jalepeno, banana peppers, lettuce, tomato, and ketchup. I got the onion rings; he got the fries and we shared. And he got his own bottle of root beer. Perfect end to a great day.
Even if there is a new home, it won't be the same.
Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger -- Cheaper than food.
December 6th, 2012 at 11:03 PM ^
Move to corner of State and Packard, where the failed Packard Pub was.
Blimpy at that location = gold mine
December 6th, 2012 at 11:18 PM ^
I ate at Blimpy maybe three times in two years at AA... I had to intentionally avoid it or else I'd have gained 200 pounds because it's so great
depressing as hell to see it move. a downtown location could be good for them, though, it would help them capitalize on all of the TV attention they've gotten from townies and people in the city to shop.
December 7th, 2012 at 6:32 AM ^
Hangovers were cured at the Fleetwood, White Castle or the Pan Tree (besides WC the only thing open 24 hrs...)
December 7th, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^
thanks to the Dear Diary today. My reaction: