It’s being reported tonight that the Washington Street buildings owned by Dave Curtis – the ones housing his bars, the Savoy and Pub 13 – are up for sale. The following clip comes from AnnArbor.com:
The recent closings of two downtown Ypsilanti bars took a permanent turn this week after the lender listed both the Savoy and Pub 13 for sale.
Michigan Commerce Bank is asking for $990,000 for both properties, which share a liquor license, said listing broker Jim Chaconas of Colliers International.
Both bars were operated by David Curtis, who closed them in late November amid what Curtis described as a dispute with DTE Energy over his utility billing. The businesses were $30,000 in arrears, according to DTE — though Curtis said a malfunctioning meter caused the massive underbilling.
But other debts appear to have mounted, resulting in the lender seeking a new owner for the businesses, which have anchored downtown Ypsilanti’s entertainment district…
According to the report, Curtis owed $44,632.99 in back taxes, interest and penalties (for 2008 and 2009) at the point DTE cut the power and things started unraveling on him. The report also says that Curtis bought the Pub 13 building in 2002 for a mere $150,000, which makes the asking price of $450,000 seem just a tad bit steep. (It’s not as though properties have been appreciating much in Ypsilanti these past eight years.) The listing agent says that’s what the building is appraising for, and the liquor license is apparently included, but I think it’s more likely that the bank is just trying to get back some of what it’s owed. (My guess is that Curtis leveraged the building considerably, borrowing heavily against it for improvements and the like.) At any rate, I don’t think it’s likely to sell any time soon, at least not at that price. Most likely, it’ll go to auction in the spring… What do you say we pool our money and buy a bar, Ypsilanti? We better act fast, though, before the Maurers snatch it up.
I don’t know what he paid for it, but the individual asking price for the Savoy building is $565,000… Together, the two buildings (which share a liquor license) are 21,000 square feet.
61 Comments
so- let’s start a lottery pool. I need those places open!
Once Steve Pierce and Brian Robb open their baseball stadium on Water Street, those places will be worth ten times that easily.
I’m in, Bee!
Nah, just close Washington Street every friday night, that will save his businesses; who cares about the other businesses downtown.
Oh wait, that didn’t work, did it?
Interested Bob.
How much of that asking price is the liquor license? Does anyone know the going rate for one these days? And how would the liquor license work if the two properties were sold independently?
However,
my utmost respect does go to Dave Curtis for trying to pull this all off in Ypsilanti.
Interested Bob.
The death spiral started when the cash cow known as Club Divine closed. It kept the whole empire afloat. Does anyone know why it closed? Had they been busted or something?
No, Club Divine was Never busted or anything like that, ever.
I’m venturing a guess, his biggest money partner/ or him, wanted to take some money out a year or so ago, which is fine, and zapped the place of funds, to a degree?
Economy was tough, and it never recovered?
Just a guess, I have no facts.
Interested Bob.
I would say, the biggest benefactors of all the bar closings in Downtown Ypsilanti the past several years, has to be the Tap Room.
Must be nice to have family money to keep things expanding and running at the Tap Room.
Just a hunch also.
Interested Bob.
Dave worked his ass of trying to keep those businesses afloat. Too bad he started that BBQ Grill which was the beginning of his demise. He should of stayed with the club venue that he was good at. Food is tough, alcohol is easier.
I understand what you’re saying about Dave taking money out of the business. I’ve heard the same thing. And I’ve heard that the businesses have suffered, as regular upkeep and maintenance wasn’t being done. I don’t understand, though, how that would explain the change from top-40 dance format to whatever the Savoy was supposed to be. According to reports of county-wide liquor sales, Club Divine was one of the most successful bars in all of Washtenaw. Why did they make the decision to change? The only reason I can see is that they wanted to get away from the risk of serving minors.
From the discussion at the AnnArbor.com site.
The disagreement seems to be about whether DejaVu ever owned one of the Curtis properties in question. Is that it?
For what it’s worth, I think there’s huge potential for the Savoy/Divine space, and I’d love to put together a group of investors to buy it. I doubt I’ll do it, but I think, done right, a good club of that size in Ypsi could give the Blind Pig a run for its money.
Mark,
I am in if you are serious.
Yes, there is huge potential for these types of clubs right where they were.
My hat always went off to Mr. Curtis for trying to make something in Downtown Ypsilanti.
I have always thought though, from 2002, the beginning, he had started WAY to big for the Ypsilanti area.
Streamed down concepts from the start at pub-13 and upstairs etc, wouldn’t of hurt in the long run.
But, he did try and you can’t fault him for that.
Interested Bob.
What, no women in the top brass at the Vu?
It amazes me the extent to which people go out of their way to thank Dave Curtis for all that he’s done for the city when he got his start hiring very young women to spread their vaginas open for the gynecological inspection of degenerates. The man was a glorified pimp who was, according to the comment above, fired for stealing. God only knows what kind of stuff he was up to with these women when he worked there. I applaud him if he turned his life around, and think everyone deserves a chance to redeem himself, but let’s not fall all over ourselves praising him when he built his empire on the bared pussies of desperate coke-addled teens.
K tierney, what strip joints and porn shops do you sneak to where nobody knows you in other areas of the state; or what’s stashed in your closet?
Somewhat slanderous comments, it seems a post up.
See you in church.
Interested Bob.
Dave is the nicest guy ever. And he worked his butt of to save these places. Some of the posts here are beyond disgusting.
A man’s dream is destroyed and people here are accusing him of stealing and of pimping young girls.
You’re a sick bunch here.
I agree with Sarah. Why do people insist on kicking someone when they’re down. Don’t they feel he’s suffered enough? Dave wil come back. I’m sure of it.
This is copy and pasted from Joe Golder on the Ann Arbor.com board.
Trying to survive as a business owner in Ypsilanti can sure be challenging. Ypsilanti has become a place on the way to nowhere. This has more to do with location than anything else. Its a shame that crime, panhandling, and near by markets have taken a toll on folks opinions about ypsilanti. I have lived here for 39 years. I worked at the old spaghetti bender for many years and watched many business owners come and go. I have been mugged several times resulting in a few trips to st joes. I believe this could happened anywhere especially in this economy. This has never kept me from going downtown to enjoy a drink and the company of the many fine folks I meet there. I went to ann arbor in sept for my birthday and witnessed several panhandlers being pushed out of the downtown area by police officers. I didn’t feel any safer there than downtown Ypsi. The biggest problem is there isn’t enough butts to fill the many seats. Its a shame that more of the emu community doesn’t support the downtown and help defuse the unwarrantable reputation people have tagged downtown with.Too Dave curtis and all the others who have made great sacrifices in ypsilanti over the years thank you.Unfortunately someone else will always try too make a difference and the city will find a way to under mind their success. There is no reason Ypsilanti should not be the hottest entertainment spot between detroit and ann arbor. The agendas of the politicians have putt ypsilanti many years behind the surrounding communities. Wake up folks its really not that bad downtown. If you feel need an escort give me a call. I’m sure your opinion will change if you look past the bad rap.
I agree 100% with Joe Golder’s post.
I to have lived in the city of Ypsilanti for decades, since 1984.
Interested Bob.
I don’t know that you can attribute all business failure to the fear of Ypsi. Beezy’s is packed. Club Divine was packed. Sidetrack and Aubree’s continue to do good business. It seems over simplistic to me to say Dave’s places failed because people are scared of Ypsi. I don’t know about his other businesses, but his Mongolian BBQ place failed because of the quality of the food and service.
I will have to say the new President of EMU,
Susan Martin has shown a lot more interest in working with Ypsilanti.
I’ve seen her downtown at several businesses purchasing things for a couple years now on multiple occasions.
Interested Bob.
Edward,
Aubrees and Sidetrack are not in Downtown Ypsilanti.
Depot Town is it’s own little community and has it’s own niche.
Downtown Ypsilanti has always had a stigma about it, as lower, rougher than other communities. It has always had to swim up stream, so to speak.
His point is getting MASS foot traffic downtown.
Until, the stigma of “DOWNTOWN YPSILANTI” is rougher than other places is lifted, it will always be dog paddling.
How do you do it?
Good question,?
Beezy’s, Ace Hardware, Ypsilanti Cycle, The Rocket, Tap Room, Puffer Reds,
Haabs, Liquid Swortz, The Vu, Spinning Studio, Wolverine, Coreys Chicken, etc, etc, my appoligies for leaving other businesses out, not on purpose, all contribute to bring foot traffic downtown.
A Big Anchor Downtown would help.
Interested Bob.
I think Edward knows where depot town and downtown is…he lives here you know. I have lived here since 1975, and while I respect the fact others may have had bad experiences, I have not. I frequent downtown and depot town. I feel very sad for Dave, he was a great Santa last year and I have enjoyed many an hour at all of his establishments. Just like I miss the “Old Town” in depot town, now THAT was a restaurant! It is sad for Ypsi and yea the asses are being their usual assholes here with their usual garbage drenched brains but hey it is Ypsi and it is Christmas, so buck up Ypsi and carry on. And please frequent our town’s venues as often as possible.
“He built his empire on the bared pussies of desperate coke-addled teens”
Now that is going to be my epitaph.
Pussies, pussies, pussies. Won’t somebody please think of the titties?
In the picture that accompanies the annarbor.com story about Curtis he is standing in front of the fancy Mongolian BBQ sign in 2008. I think that picture says a 1,000 words. In 2008 he spent big bucks on a sign for a restaurant that he did not open until 2010. Sounds like a smart businessman to me.
And could someone please explain why you all say “___________ has done so much for Ypsilanti”, about every failed business person in town. Please list these “things” he has done for Ypsilanti.
notoneofthecoolkids, what have you done for Ypsi? Have you ever employed someone, made a payroll or bought supplies locally? Have you ever rented or bought a building and tried to improve the image of the downtown? Nope.
Have you ever worked on a committee or volunteered in the area. Nope.
You just blog here spewing all your venum towards the business people.
I douobt you have the guts or the savy to open a business.
I don’t live in Ypsi nor do I know anything about Mr. Curtis, but given the incredible turn over of business in Ypsi, anyone who is willing to take that incredible risk must really believe in Ypsi.
This one goes out to all the people who ever tried to start a business in Ypsi.
First, I don’t think I’ve ever met a stripper (and I’ve known many) who was pimped or somehow tricked into her job. Doesn’t mean I have the most respect for owners of those establishments (and let’s be honest, based on my experience the Ypsi Deja Vu rests firmly at the bottom of the barrel as far as nudie joints go) but it doesn’t mean that owning one immediately makes you a shady character.
Second, based on my 1 experience there just as it was opening J Neil’s was a silent disaster. As noneofthecoolkids stated the hype for the opening of the restaurant was sufficiently extinguished by the time the actual date rolled around. The waitstaff was poorly trained, the guys at the grill were borderline rude, the place was EMPTY and being the only couple dining we were seated in the front window about a half mile from the grill which made walking back & forth through the large quiet room sort of spooky & unwelcoming. It wasn’t ugly or unclean, it just wasn’t the right thing for Ypsi.
The same could be said for the Keystone underneath. The signage was poor, the business model was wrong, the entrance to the bar was even awkward & I had barely heard of it until months after it was there. I’m sorry, but whoever convinced them that a martini bar would fly in Ypsilanti was a madman. I heard that they even had to special order PBR for the Laundromat event just so there would be something there that the young art crowd would want to drink. Again, it was just the wrong thing for Ypsi.
The crowd is there. We’ve all seen packed venues in Ypsi night after night. We’ve all had to wait for tables at restaurants around here. None of us have forgotten that EMU is right around the corner. It’s not that people are afraid of Ypsi, because they’re braving the mean streets to show up all over town. The problem is people like Curtis opening businesses hastily without really looking at what the city already has & what it needs & what it really doesn’t need, like a high priced martini bar or an unfriendly Mongolian BBQ warehouse.
agreed.
Some of those hookers have hearts of gold.
Speaking of whores with hearts of gold, did you see that ex-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was sentenced to 3 years in prison for money laundering?
http://link.email.washingtonpost.com/r/C7I8XW/JISYEI/JEI8IT/ZDR5L1/SZXBR/VU/h
A2.com is reporting that a nightclub owner in Wayne has optioned the Kresge building location for 60 days. He’s thinking of opening a second location of his bar, US-12. The guy’s name is John Goci and he’s partnering with a local businessman named Jamie Clippert, who, according to the article, is terminally ill. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I guess that’s par for the course in Ypsi.
interesting. here’s the fb page for US-12 in Wayne. with pics.
https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43431547874#!/group.php?gid=43431547874&v=wall
there’s something somewhere about dress to impress—but no hats. some demographic research might be needed.
it would be exciting for something to move in there. especially a place that will continue live music.
I known Dave Curtis since he opened it up..I was one of the people did the work on Pub13 & Divine..Dave is a Great Man…None Better..Anywhere..He Helped me when I was down & out..DTE Screwed Dave & so did the City of Ypsilanti..Its all about DTE , Not the Bussiness owers…Its all about the Money, Not their Meter’s that don’t work !!!! Thats just the way they are, Lets make Ypsi another for gotten City. Its all about Goverment, Not the People in this Country..Just another Bussiness gone..& Deja Vu has nothing but a bunch of Pig ass Women…Hats off for Dave trying to make it in Ypsi..Dave is my Bro..He will be OK…
I didn’t know you can surf the net from prison.
Anybody have any updated information on if Dave Curtis opened some bar/ piano bar in Jackson Michigan?
Anybody know what he’s been up to?
Just curious, he did put a decade of business in Downtown Ypsi.
Watching Laughing.
This may be the bar. It’s a place called OhBar in Jackson. It has dueling pianos, and opened in November of this year. There’s no mention of Curtis that I can see, but maybe someone with sharper eyes than me can spot him in one of the photo galleries.
http://ohbarjackson.com/?page_id=217
Oh! Bar has 4,058 Likes on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/TheOhBar
MarkMaynard.com has 196.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/MarkMaynardcom/228720043818101
There is no justice in the world.
Anybody here anything new on what Dave Curtis has been up?
Is he running or managing any night clubs or bars?
Just curious.
He did put a lot of time in Downtown Ypsilanti.
Thank you,
Watching Laughing.
Check out docket number DC2-11-0001297 and DC2-11-0001278 at 14a-1 District court in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti. Records are open to Public, of course. Address below:
14A-1 District Court
4133 Washtenaw Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
I don’t think our business tycoon, Dave, showed up for his court date. Apparently, he is still hiding.
Does anyone have any further info on the whereabouts of Ypsilanti’s finest, John D Curtis, or Dave Curtis, or whatever he has changed his name to now???
Keep this thread alive. I know that there are MANY other people who are just as upset as I am!!
Looks like probably personal property tax on the business’s, etc, if it’ the City of Ypsi.
I can’t open up the file?
Lot of stuff in those places, when they were operating, it could be pretty high.
It will just be a default Judgement and a Washtenaw County Deputy will get in and take what is owed to the city in a few months.
Let the bidding begin,,,
WL.
FWIW,
somebody posted, he has some sort of interest and is at the OH Bar in Jackson Michigan?
WL.
Mr. Curtis’ is part of Diversified Restaurant Holdings Inc. His son is COO. Their stock is traded on the NASDAQ exchange and has a market cap of seventy-six million dollars.
http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=DFRH
Why not ask Steve Pierce? He was one of Dave’s biggest supporters. I’m sure they’re still in touch.
Mr. Thomas Michael Ansley , 41
Chairman, Chief Exec. Officer, Pres and Member of Disclosure Controls, Governance & Nominating Committee 218.00K N/A
Mr. David Gregory Burke , 40
Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, Treasurer, Director and Member of Disclosure Controls, Governance & Nominating Committee 195.00K N/A
Mr. Jason T. Curtis , 31
Chief Operating Officer 128.00K N/A
Mr. Jay Alan Dusenberry , 40
Sec., Director and Member of Audit Committee 0.00 N/A
Robert Roush ,
Compliance Officer and Controller N/A N/A
I don’t see Dave Curtis as owning any shares, or anything part of this company?
Yes, I assume this is his son Jason Curtis, and is COO.
WL.
Walt, FWIW,
Dave Curtis doesn’t have anything to do with DFRH Company.
His son Jason started with the company from the ground floor and worked his way up.
Everything is public record, for a publicly traded company.
Nothing is anywhere in the company about Dave Curtis owning 1 share or having anything to do with this company at anytime.
It appears to be a lucrative business.
I trade stocks bonds, options for living.
WL.
I once ordered a glass white wine from Mongolian BBQ, and it was room temp. I never went back.
Dave Curtis, David Curtis, or John D Curtis has nothing to do with the OH! Bar in Jackson. The OH! Bar had a very short stint with the Dueling Pianos concept and Dave was not a part of it.
Dave is nowhere to be found. His summer home is up for sale. My attorney has served him at all 6 of his last known addresses and the best we’ve done so far is to get a default judgement against him. His summer home is up for sale.
Idiot Dave always talked as if HE owned several BW3 restaurants in the same way as this thread reflects that he always talked about owning Deja Vu. Dave has nothing to do with BW3’s, Bagger Dave’s, or DFRH. His son is part of their management team and his youngest son works the fryer at a BW3’s location.
Dave owes me nearly 20K. According to the court filings for docket numbers listed above in thread, he owes over 15K to the city of Ypsilanti. This is in addition to the amount he owes to DTE. Who knows how much money he owes to other venders.
This just goes to show you that you can get away with being a complete idiot for only a short period of time. Mr John D Curtis is hiding now, and I’m sure he is re-thinking his business etiquite.
If anyone finds out any information as to where this idiot is hiding, please share.
Again, I’m sure that I am not the only person who is still upset and still trying to collect form good ‘ole bozo Dave.
Hey Still upset,
Do a bunch of DD on DFRH, the publicly thinly traded company his son is high up in Management. Dave Curtis has NO business interest in it as of public records at all.
The time the DFRH did an IPO, Dave Curtis’s Businesses on Washington Street, ran into big financial problems?
And his son Jason now has 900,000 DFRH shares after the IPO.
This is all just a guess connecting dots.
If you’re owed a ton of money on Default Judgements now,
knock yourself out and take a look.
Might be some money in those shares and where the money came from to purchase that many, at that young of an age?
Can’t hurt.
This is all just a guess, nothing more.
Good luck,
WL.
WL: do you know who now owns his properties on Washington?
No, haven’t looked.
It’s all public record.
WL.
I trade stocks etc for a living.
It’s pretty easy for me to dig though companies and figure them out.
Making money is the hard part, LOL.
WL.
I would go down to the Recorders office Deed and Mortgage transfers, at the Washtenaw County Building in Ann Arbor and hand search the properties.
It’s all free to pull everything up.
Copies are a few bucks.
Grab a title searcher working, be nice and ask him to help you.
WL.
I met Dave in the early 1990’s. He was always a snake in the grass. When he worked for Deja Vu, he had “Ghost employee’s”, these were people that he put on payroll, they were very real too, they just did not work there. When the paychecks arrived, he simply deposited them inot his account. Dave stole a ton of money from the DJV. Actually what got him canned, yes that is right….FIRED! And No, Dave never “owned” the Vu, but anyways, a corporate officer randomly showed up at the club, and he noticed an employee wearing a Deja Vu uniform ducking into what eventually became Club Divine, except is was still under renovation. So, this corporate officer discovered that good ole Dave was having certain employee’s clocking in at the Vu then sending them to do miscellaneous work at Divine. After catching this, corporate took even a deeper look and discovered Dave was screwing them from every direction. This is when they FIRED him! And for those who are unaware..there is an apartment above DJV, on the Washington St side. Dave lived there too, without the vu knowing, to top it off, when he needed money, he rented it OUT!! and kept the rent, telling people he owned it, when it belonged to DJV corp. The apartment was meant for storage!
Deja Vu knew they would never recover the money, and with strip joints already fighting a bad rep, they wanted to avoid any attention and did not pursue criminal charges. Eventually the 3 managers after Dave eventually were fired too!! ? Wanna take a guess why? THEFT!
In the end, even when he owned his own business, Dave Curtis stole. He stole from his employee’s and he stole from DTE, he left owing creditors 10’s of thousands of dollars, and if he was so innocent, he would have showed up for his court dates.
And might I add….Dave Curtis never owned a ‘summer home’! He rented it! He has always rented! ALWAYS! Dave actually use to live in a crammed apartment on the corner of Washtenaw and Adams st. The summer home was owned by a guy named Mark Lechard.
And to Steve Pearce- Your knowledge of Dave Curtis, John Curtis or whatever you want to call him – Is limited at best!
I am looking for Dave Curtis. If you know where he is, could you please let me know?
I’ve heard people have been snooping around.
Works at applewood nursing home in wood haven. He is a real pig.