Area business closings include Ann Arbor Cyclery, BarSALONa, BP gas station
This sign was in the window of Ann Arbor Cyclery early last month.
Ed Vielmetti | AnnArbor.com
Here are some of them:
• Ann Arbor Cyclery: Customers at the bike shop on Packard showed up in early November to find a “We Are Closed” sign on the door.
The reason, according to the hand-lettered sign: “My boss doesn’t want to pay me so I am not showing up anymore because I am owed 2 months of pay!”
The store still hasn’t reopened, but that sign was removed within days.
I’ve tried to reach the owner of both the building and the business, Jonathan Kieft, but no one at his home returned my call.
And the number at the store has been "temporarily disconnected," according to a recording that's been active for weeks.
• BP Gas Station: The store at the northwest corner of Platt and Packard once competed with the Packard Mini Mart across Platt. But that gas station was sold this fall through the county’s tax foreclosure auctions, and now BP is going out of business.
Early signs of change at the gas station came before Thanksgiving when the store stopped accepting credit cards.
Then balloons were added to the property, drawing drivers’ attention to the “going out of business” sign.
The business is operated by Big M Fuel LLC BP. Registered agent Ulku Canagir didn’t respond to repeated calls.
It’s been about a year since the region saw a wave of gas stations closing - the industry has been hard-hit by the economy, with many operators struggling as the margin on fuel sales shrinks.
Still, some operators see opportunity from the changes: Among them are the former Marathon store that soon will reopen on Washtenaw after remodeling; a new Kroger station also soon to open; and the reopening of a Marathon station at Packard and Carpenter.
• The Teeth Whitening Store and BarSALONa - Of these two lower-level businesses in Liberty Plaza, the salon left about a month ago, while the Teeth Whitening store shut down suddenly over the weekend.
The building - located on East Liberty between South Fourth and South Fifth - also houses one of the area’s newer businesses: Squares Restaurant.
Part of the lower level is leased to Antelope Antiques, which occupies the front of the building - including the line of windows as the street level.
“That lets in quite a bit of light down there,” said Deb Pearson of Bluestone Realty Associates, who is leasing the space for $18 per square foot.
The salon is 1,603 square feet, while the other space is 515 square feet, Pearson said.
Comments
michigan48103
Thu, Dec 2, 2010 : 9:18 a.m.
They are hiring at Comcast on Jackson Road, check the internet and do not work for anyone for 2 months and for NO pay.
jmac
Thu, Dec 2, 2010 : 8:09 a.m.
Even though the Packard Mini Mart across the street from the BP on Platt was apparently sold it is still closed. No idea when it will re-open. So now there will be 2 closed gas stations at the corner of Platt and Packard. This is a very busy intersection (I drive through it twice a day myself) with a lot of nearby retail activity and residential areas; not clear why these gas stations have such a tough time staying afloat in that area.
Oregon39_Michigan7
Thu, Dec 2, 2010 : 8:09 a.m.
Dear Ann Arbor Cyclery employee, Dude, hire a lawyer. The business owner gets to deduct who he or she pays you on their taxes (IRS 162) so don't feel bad, though I'm sure you don't, about going after your money.
C
Thu, Dec 2, 2010 : 7:56 a.m.
The guys at Ann Arbor Cyclery have been so nice and helpful, especially since the location was on my bike commute home. I'll miss them.
bunnyabbot
Thu, Dec 2, 2010 : 12:43 a.m.
you mean a teeth whitening store went out of business? I am shocked!
AA
Wed, Dec 1, 2010 : 10:03 p.m.
$2,400 a month for what? OUCH
Bear
Wed, Dec 1, 2010 : 7:14 p.m.
1,603 sq. ft. x $18.00 = $28,854.00! If it's the rent per year, then that comes to about $2,400 per month, which seems reasonable. Except for that location doesn't attract a lot of people to it.
Michigan Reader
Wed, Dec 1, 2010 : 7:13 p.m.
I was at the Packard and Platt BP last week, and a woman behind the counter told me they were closing (Monday would be the last day) and the reason was taxes. I'm not sure if she meant property or sales, but I suspect property taxes were to blame. I thought when the mini-mart closed, that would benefit the BP. Apparently, not enough.