Insomnia Cookies to return to Ann Arbor with permanent space on South University Avenue
Insomnia Cookies -- the late night cookie business popular with University of Michigan students -- recently signed a lease for a permanent space on South University Avenue.
The new storefront, located at 1229 S. University Ave. in the former Yogo Bliss space, replaces the company’s food truck that has operated near the U-M campus in years past.
The truck would often park around campus and also made late-night deliveries, serving freshly baked cookies, cookie cakes, brownies and milk until 3 a.m.
But the Insomnia Cookies truck has been absent from Ann Arbor since January 2011, when the truck could no longer park for long periods of time due to a change in Ann Arbor’s Solicitors and Peddlers ordinance, according to a Michigan Daily report.
Now, the business -- which is owned by New York-based parent company Serve U Brands -- plans to open its permanent storefront in the 920-square-foot South University space in the coming months.
Mike Giraud of Swisher Commercial, who listed the Yogo Bliss space, said Insomnia Cookies searched for the right space for years before landing this “prime location.”
“This is right in their strike zone in terms of size and the location being on campus,” he said. “It’s exactly what they were looking for. They thoroughly understand the demographic they’re dealing with.”
He added: “I think they’ll be a really strong tenant and I think they’ll do a good job.”
The company could not be reached for comment regarding its plans for the space, but Giraud said because it most recently operated as a yogurt shop, it already has “a lot of infrastructure in place.”
Insomnia Cookies operates in mostly college towns across the country and currently has 19 locations, with several more set to open this year.
When the Ann Arbor location opens, all customers can receive a free cookie with a coupon that will appear on the company’s Facebook page.
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
AdmiralMoose
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 11:42 p.m.
That's a perfect location for them. Long may they bake!
Berda Green
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 6:44 p.m.
good for them
Some Guy in A2
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 6:13 p.m.
Every few weeks I get a late-night craving for warm, fresh cookies. I was really bummed to find out they had basically gotten run out of town. Now if they are willing to do delivery to us working professional types that don't want to hoof it to South U, they will have my order!
JimB
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 3:14 p.m.
sounds like a good product but how many cookies can you sell to pay the rent and make a living. The food cart idea seems to fit the business model better than a store front with real rent.
AdmiralMoose
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 11:41 p.m.
There are 19 locations, including one in East Lansing that rocks. I think they've proved the concept.
bobslowson
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 4:36 p.m.
Agreed....but lots of students have an expendable income from mommy and daddy so...if it can work anywhere, A2 would be the spot.
a2miguy
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 2:38 p.m.
"But the Insomnia Cookies truck has been absent from Ann Arbor since January 2011, when the truck could no longer park for long periods of time due to a change in Ann Arbor's Solicitors and Peddlers ordinance, according to a Michigan Daily report." There you have it, folks. Yet another example of how our local government has driven... literally... business out of town. I'm glad a space became available for them on South U (I had their cookies in Ithaca, NY and they are pretty amazing), but let's just hope the greedy A2 landlord mafia doesn't price them out of town.
Epengar
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 7:37 p.m.
Yeah, drove them so far out of town that they opened a store... on South U!! The Solicitors & Peddlers ordinance says you can't just park your truck in the street and sit there, selling food. You have to get a street use permit. I imagine they could have set up a cart too on the sidewalk too, plenty of businesses are doing that.
ranger007
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 2:12 p.m.
Did I miss something with the new panhandlers&solicitors law?...are they enforcing it or just picking and choosing who they allow..personally I would rather see someone doing something fun and selling tasty cookies rather than have some homeless dude following me and asking for money.
Epengar
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
It's Solicitors & *Peddlers* law, applies to people selling things on the street. Not relevant to panhandlers.
anonymous
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 1:48 p.m.
to the naysayers....Give it a rest! They are just cookies!
Soothslayer
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
This is precisely the thing that the American consumer, fighting obesity epidemics, DOESN'T need. It's a bad business, you should feel bad for opening it.
zanzerbar
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 4:14 p.m.
Milk and cookies....my only weakness.
Hmm
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 12:40 p.m.
The smell of fresh baking cookies is going to be a siren call. This place is going to flourish if they keep their quality up
Amanda Erickson
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 12:16 p.m.
Yay!!! Love Insomnia Cookies!! Such a great idea... fresh hot cookies late at night?! Yum! I have also used there cookie mailing service online to mail cookies, and it was A+