Tag Archives: our fragile downtown business ecosystem

The fight intensifies over Ann Arbor’s proposed “ambassador” program

“Does Ann Arbor’s downtown belong to the people of Ann Arbor, or to the City’s most influential and vocal business owners?” It’s a question that’s been asked quite a bit this past week, in the wake of news surfacing about an Ann Arbor DDA plan to further the “mallification” of downtown by hiring a small […]

Posted in Ann Arbor, Local Business, Marketing, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 73 Comments

Ypsi/Arbor Exit Interview: Newcombe Clark

A week or so ago, in front of an audience at Conor O’Neills, I had the pleasure of conducting a live exit interview with Ann Arbor-born commercial real estate broker turned University of Michigan MBA Newcombe Clark, who will soon be leaving Michigan for Chicago. As there was still a great deal that we didn’t […]

Posted in Ann Arbor, History, Local Business, Locally Owned Business, Special Projects | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 50 Comments

Ypsilanti deserves better than a Family Dollar store on Water Street

Certain kinds of businesses do well in times of great economic uncertainty. Chief among them are so-called “variety stores” and “dollar stores.” As Howard Levine, the CEO of Family Dollar, one of America’s leading chains operating in this sector recently said to the press, “In today’s uncertain economic environment, value continues to resonate… Our strategy […]

Posted in Economics, Rants, Uncategorized, Ypsilanti | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 132 Comments

The U-M architects charged with envisioning Ypsilanti’s much anticipated recreation center share their designs, and discuss why this “new civic anchor” is so important to the future of the city

As I think most of you know, a team of University of Michigan architects and their graduate students were approached some time ago and asked to envision what a new Water Street recreation center might look. Having completed their design concepts, they will be presenting their work to the citizens of Ypsilanti at SPARK East […]

Posted in Architecture, Sustainability, Ypsilanti | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

Ypsi’s VG Kids, considering a move to Ann Arbor

My friend James owns the local screen printing company, VG Kids. I’ve written about them here plenty of times in the past, and I’ve held them up as an example of the kind of young, dynamic, quality-focused, arts-centered company that we need more of here in Ypsi. So, as you might expect, I wasn’t exactly […]

Posted in Ann Arbor, Art and Culture, Local Business, Locally Owned Business, Ypsilanti | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 70 Comments

Connect

BUY LOCAL... or shop at Amazon through this link Banner Initiative Why am I here