Bistro Bar and Grill on Washtenaw Avenue in Pittsfield Township closes for business
The Bistro Bar and Grill, located at 4735 Washtenaw Ave. in the Glencoe Crossing shopping center, officially closed this week.
Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com
The restaurant, located at 4735 Washtenaw Ave., closed more than a week ago, but a sign in the window announced it would reopen on Aug. 15 following kitchen renovations.
However, Tom Gritter of McKinley Inc. — the company that owns the Glencoe Crossing shopping center — confirmed that the restaurant has officially closed for business.
The announcement took employees by surprise, as the closing first appeared temporary and due to renovations.
Early Monday, restaurant manager Victoria Wirwille told AnnArbor.com the restaurant would reopen within a week. After discovering the restaurant would officially close, Wirwille said the details of the change in plans were unclear.
“I wish I knew what was going on,” she said. “I was just told that it was closing.”
The registered owner of the restaurant is Joseph Goychay. He could not be reached for comment.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
Dave Sullivan
Sun, Aug 14, 2011 : 3:40 a.m.
One of the most poorly run establishments in the county. Overpriced drinks, poor service, and a parking lot that had lots of suspicious activity going on. Hint...if you actually build a place people want to come to you will prosper!
HENDRIX242
Sat, Aug 13, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
This event did not warrant a news story. The place was a dump and will not be missed. How about bar without a blaring TV? I am much more interested in whom I'm dining & drinking with than the oversaturated advertising that follows us everywhere.
hyp0static
Sat, Aug 13, 2011 : 3:05 p.m.
Long live the Sexy Pheasant
Evemis
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 6:22 p.m.
Who let this headline through??
Jack Gladney
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 4:35 p.m.
Another victim of the Snyder administration.
treetowncartel
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 6:22 p.m.
Actually, Granholm signed the smoking ban that was probably a catalyst, but not the only one, for this places closure.
eagleman
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 5:31 p.m.
Your comment makes absolutely no sense. Bistro stunk. I remember going there and being subjected to a pat down because of gang issues. The place was terrible. What Rick Snyder has to do with a poorly run business only you know.
RTFM
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 3:51 p.m.
I am surprised at how long this place stayed open. Never wanted to go back after trying it once.
treetowncartel
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 3 p.m.
Goodbye to the Kroger Bistro! Bring back the University Drive In theater.
Craig Lounsbury
Sat, Aug 13, 2011 : 4:52 p.m.
I know I played kissy face with my high school sweetheart in a couple of those Drive Inns..... a shout out to "Donna" in case your tuning in. ;)
treetowncartel
Sat, Aug 13, 2011 : 1:47 a.m.
Had my first trip to compuware's drive in the other week, not too bad, but the screens are not tight, saw a few wrinkles.
townie54
Sat, Aug 13, 2011 : 1:20 a.m.
yea treetown,the university was where the theaters on carpenter road are now,and besides the two others mentioned the willow drive in was east of Ypsi on michigan ave
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 4:38 p.m.
I forgot about the Scio your correct sir. Between the two of us "old farts" I believe we have them pinpointed.
treetowncartel
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 4:06 p.m.
You are right, what was I thinking, the University was out on Carpenter and Ellsworth. I think the one on Jackson was called Scio drive in through out all of the featured genres that played there. Good catch. wish I could fix that in the post. Oh well.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 3:53 p.m.
I believe it was the Ypsi/Ann wasn't it? I thought the University was out Jackson Road.
glimmertwin
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 2:11 p.m.
I was never a fan.
Lou Perry
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 2:02 p.m.
Not to long ago in same shopping center a long-term Chinese restaurant closed also along with Comcast. The anchor store is a Credit Union branch for all. Something is wrong.
bg
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 1:27 p.m.
I've heard of one "opening for business" but "closing for business"? I don't think so. C'mon people!
AA
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 1:27 p.m.
This 'Bar' was a rip-off. I once bought my freind a Crown Royal whiskey on the rocks: Price: $11.50. The bartender informed us that there was a $3.00 charge for the 'Rocks". I told her I could have gone to an amusement park for a day at that price. I also noticed a certain type of employee, always rotating, never permanant. SHADY. Good riddance.
Terra Firma
Sat, Aug 13, 2011 : 4:50 p.m.
Regardless of what price an establishment charges for a drink, you have to realize that anytime one orders liquor on the rocks that one is receiving a rocks pour vs. a standard pour. A rocks pour is larger, ergo, since one is receiving more liquor the cost is therefore higher. I'm not defending the place, just pointing out a standard fact of the industry which many people do not know about or understand.
UM owns
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 1:04 p.m.
This put a smile on my face. The owner of this establishment was absolutely horrible -- from customer service, to caring for his employees, to business decisions. I won't elaborate on all the issues here, but they are well-documented by reviewers on various websites (eg Yelp).
mibadger
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 10:05 p.m.
I share your sentiment. I was in there before the smoking ban and complained to the waitress about the men at the next table, who were smoking in the "no smoking" section. She said they were the owners.
1201SouthMain
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 1:19 p.m.
Yep, I'm surprised this place stayed open as long as it did. I'm not in the industry but I have to believe that treating your customers well has to be a top priority for a restaurant/bar. Management at Bistro acted like they were doing you a favor to have you come in and sit down.
lumberg48108
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:53 p.m.
My experiences at the Bistro were the following: Cool decore and had the look of a fun place. Food was average and service was poor ... this was when it first opened. So we gave them another try 6 months later figuring it was just growing pains ... same scenario. My biggest complaint was their nachos - they did not season the ground beef!!! I asked the manager about this and got a blank stare ... if you cant get the basics right, you will never survive! They could learn something from Aubree's! Sad to see another place close but not every place should survive.
Thinking over here
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 3:48 p.m.
NOte, it's not SMokehouse BLues anymore - it's The Smokehouse...
treetowncartel
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 2:58 p.m.
Go get the barbecue Chicken Nachos at Smokehouse blues, simply wonderful.
1201SouthMain
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 1:26 p.m.
OMG their nachos! We sent them back because they were just bad. A group of 5 or 6 of us each had a bite or two before we called over the waitress. Then the owner would not take it off our bill because we had eaten some of it!!!! We had ordered multiple apps and we're drinking watching a game. It's not like we ordered just the nachos and kicked em back. Ridiculous. Unfortunately there's not much in that area so we would go back occassionally. It won't be missed.
Ariel
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:47 p.m.
They had the best buffalo chicken tenders.
Nicole
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:45 p.m.
Really sad to hear this. My fiance and I loved going to the Bistro -- great food, a nice, open atmosphere. We went almost every week during the football season!
Wolf's Bane
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:45 p.m.
Oh, I wonder why? Was it the food, the atmosphere? The prices, perhaps?
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:53 p.m.
I vote location. As an occasional customer I liked the food, I liked the atmosphere and I thought the prices were reasonable.
Hot Sam
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:21 p.m.
I'd like to know how one closes "for" business???
Dot
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:06 p.m.
Perhaps "closed for remodeling" in hopes of reorganizing and getting things together financially is a common plan. Not accomplishing the plan then results in abandonment of the business. Tough business to be in, even in good times.
David Paris
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:06 p.m.
Not to worry, The Village Pub will be opening shortly on Washtenaw at Pinecrest (across from Paisano's). The Bistro sat too far off the road to be useful, imho.
David Paris
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 7:28 p.m.
@treetowncartel: You're right, sorry about that. The intersection is Pittsfield.
treetowncartel
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 3:07 p.m.
Pinecrest is back in the subdivision and does not intersect with Washtenaw. Is the village pub going to be some kind of Blind Pig at someone's house?
treetowncartel
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 2:57 p.m.
That must be the subway Jared relied on to lose all that weight, he never ate.
Urban Sombrero
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:57 p.m.
Is that Subway ever going to open? I drive past it pretty much everyday (I live in the area) and the counter is there, but there doesn't seem to be much other progress. My son really wants it to open. He's a sub freak and, I think, would like to try to get a job there.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:23 p.m.
I've been watching that sign....hopefully it opens faster than the Subway on Platt south of Rite Aide
bruceae
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:03 p.m.
That's too bad. We use to go there quite a bit with friends to watch football games but since the smoking ban I haven't been in there. Now friends just come over or we go to their house and watch games. I guess all of those non smokers who were going to keep these bars in business and showing up.
DennisP
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 11:08 a.m.
It seems that whenever a restaurant suddenly "closes for remodeling", you're looking at a restaurant that's closing permanently. I'm not sure why they all seem to engage in this tactic. Perhaps it is a way of avoiding having to disburse paychecks to employees on the day of closing. The employees then are SOL with little means of contacting the owners... Seems to be such a common thing though.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 11:07 a.m.
I wonder if there's a study out there on restaurants that "close for remodeling"? A study that might indicate how many actually reopen? as a sidebar I might buy one of those TV's if they are for sale.