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Posted on Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 5:59 a.m.

See how Ann Arbor Zingerman's Deli expansion is shaping up

By Joseph Tobianski

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Here's a glimpse inside the Zingerman's Deli $6.7 million addition.

The expansion more than doubles indoor seating space, with a two-story, 10,400-square-foot addition. The deli started with 95 indoor seats and will have 200 when the project is completed by late February.

The plan to remove a fire-damaged house on Kingsley Street and replace it with a substantial addition was approved by the Ann Arbor Historic District Commission in September 2010, according to previous AnnArbor.com reports. Construction has been ongoing and the addition, which is set back between the original deli building and Zingerman's Next Door, opened to the public in the fall.

The construction project was originally expected to wrap up this month, with the new building connected to the original deli building by a glass atrium.

"There will certainly be substantial work done by late January and lots of interesting changes but projects like this always have long punch lists at the end so late February is a safer bet," Zingerman's marketing manager Pete Sickman-Garner said in an email.

Read more about what the expansion will add to Zingerman's Deli.

Coming Saturday: What the local business Urban Ashes has to do with Zingerman's expansion.

Comments

Wolf's Bane

Sat, Jan 12, 2013 : 8:40 p.m.

Not impressed. Went with my kids. I ordered a grilled sandwich, yet the meat inside was still cold. I ordered a side of Mac -n- Cheese and it had too much pepper in it for the kids. Sorry, just facts.

Fruit Cake

Sat, Jan 12, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.

Geeze, so many cranky comments here! Sure, Zingerman's is comparatively expensive. Sure, you can find cheaper sandwiches elsewhere. But geeze, Zingerman's is an A2 institution and it is one of the thriving businesses that puts our town on the map. Celebrate the success, people! I'm glad to see them expanding and improving! I started avoiding Zingerman's because there was never a place to sit. Now I look forward to returning.

Wolf's Bane

Sun, Jan 13, 2013 : 9:22 p.m.

Too bad, huh? I guess if you pay for quality, you sort of expect quality.

Homeland Conspiracy

Sun, Jan 13, 2013 : 2:45 a.m.

Please don't say anything "is an A2 institution" or the UofM will buy it!

JGTRUEBLUE

Sat, Jan 12, 2013 : 4:35 a.m.

I regret that I never had a sandwich with substance or anything less than concrete crust. I gave up on Zingerman's last summer. If the expansion means even more expensive food and changes only to the buildings, then, good luck.

HBA

Sat, Jan 12, 2013 : 3:08 a.m.

Mazal tov! May Zingerman's continue t grow from strength to strength

treetowncartel

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 7:53 p.m.

Still trying to figure out if the Zingerman's thing is a cult, or are they truly some people overlords?

Murf

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 7:51 p.m.

Is there a discount for buying framed artwork that's hanging in the bathroom?

Homeland Conspiracy

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 6:48 p.m.

$6.7 million So if they sell 10 or 12 sandwiches it's paid for...

Julie Baker

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 6:06 p.m.

I just heard from Pete Sickman-Garner, of Zingerman's, and they're expecting construction to be complete by late February. He said a lot of interesting changes and substantial work will by done by later this month, though. Adding that to the story now.

treetowncartel

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 5:03 p.m.

Haven't been in there in years due to the fact I discovered comparable sandwiches at Back Alley Gourmet for half the price and half the wait with ample free parking

treetowncartel

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 5:57 p.m.

You can do it for about 2/3 of the price out at Star Deli in Southfield.

Nicholas Urfe

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 5:53 p.m.

Oh yes - the old "comparable" line. BAG has good sandwiches but they are not comparable. Also, there is no way to produce a sandwich with those ingredients for "half the price".

sigdiamond

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 5:51 p.m.

Awesome. One less person in front of me in line.

Wolf's Bane

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 4:32 p.m.

the kitchen is awesome

justcurious

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 3:41 p.m.

I can't afford to eat there much but please clue me in. Is the old Diroff's Meat Market building on the left now just used for retail? Is the house on the right used for seating customers? And what is the house at the rear used for now? Does that also seat customers or is it kitchen. I'm seriously in the dark about how they use these buildings now.

Kyle Mattson

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 4:10 p.m.

Hi JC- You are correct that the meat market building is used for retail. The house on the right hasn't changed and is still a cafe. The new building in the rear is where the orders are taken and paid for with the large new adjacent building housing the kitchen facilities and indoor dining area.

Nicholas Urfe

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 2:42 p.m.

Blessed are the cheesemakers!

xmo

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 2:24 p.m.

I just hate it when these "Greedy Developers" create more jobs, pay more taxes and rehabilitate an area under the guise of expanding!

JimmyD

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 2 p.m.

It will be interesting when it's complete. I'm happy to see companies investing in their businesses.

schultz2005

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 1:05 p.m.

I do not like when the server call out the name. It is noisy and some servers do not project themselves. I am hard of hearing and it is frustrating. Zingerman's should use a table number system. Otherwise, it is a nice place.

LAEL

Sat, Jan 12, 2013 : 1:34 p.m.

I agree with the others. You could have the person who takes your order add a few words of your physical description (e.g. shirt color, hair) to your order to make it easier for the person who delivers the food to find you.

Nicholas Urfe

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 2:42 p.m.

Zingerman's seems to accomodate almost any request. And they do so happily. I tend to emphasize their food and ingredients, but quality of service is a huge part of their business.

mightywombat

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 2:20 p.m.

I'm sure if you mentioned to the order taker that you are hard of hearing, they will ensure that your food gets to you in a more timely fashion.

applehazar

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 12:48 p.m.

The bathroom picture is a classic - its either toilet paper or paper towel on the ground - clearly a health code violation caught for all of us to see in todays AA.com edition!

LAEL

Sat, Jan 12, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.

It's not like businesses can afford to post an employee in the bathroom to catch the moment when someone drops their paper towel on the floor because they can't be bothered to put it in the trashbin conveniently placed right next to the door. (The towel's placement and folded condition suggests it was used to grab the door handle then dropped.) It would get cleaned up at the next time an employee checks the bathroom.

Wolf's Bane

Fri, Jan 11, 2013 : 12:37 p.m.

Not a huge fan of the cinder block mess hall. Seems institutional, like I'm back at basic training. Instead of patriotic slogans, I now get to absorb branding imagery while I eat. I miss the house.

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