Old Town owner will start new bar in ex-Full Moon in downtown Ann Arbor
A longtime local bar owner is starting a new establishment in the space that formerly housed the Full Moon on South Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor.
Chris Pawlicki, owner of the Old Town Tavern, finalized the deal for the space late last week.
Chris Pawlicki owns and operate Old Town Tavern on West Liberty, one block west of South Main Street. He'll open Stella's on Main by early 2011.
AnnArbor.com files
He and his business partners are working on building modifications to convert the former restaurant — founded and operated by Andy Gulvezan until he died in February — into a new entity also run by a group with deep local ties.
They’ll call the venture Stella’s on Main, choosing the name during a brainstorming session when “it just popped out,” Pawlicki said.
They were looking for what Pawlicki called a “sexy woman’s name, kind of mysterious,” from decades ago. Part of the reason is the 100-year-old bar, a hallmark of the Full Moon and the centerpiece of the new establishment, too.
Stella’s will be a bar “but a lot more food-oriented,” Pawlicki said, serving moderately priced dinners.
“The plan is to do some really good American food,” Pawlicki said. The key to that, he added, will be using as many local products as possible.
One reason for the attention to the local food sources is the fact that Pawlicki’s favorite restaurants in town follow the same model: he mentioned The Grange and Zingerman’s Roadhouse, in particular.
“We’re doing that not because we think it’s trendy, but because it’s (done) in the places we like to go,” he said.
Chef Scott Behler has a long career in kitchens, including Campus Inn and Washingston Street Station, Pawlicki said. He’s most recently worked in corporate restaurants.
Pawlicki will still own Old Town, but plans to turn over some of his daily duties there to a manager.
“I’m going to cut back on hours (there) a little bit,” he said.
However, part of the reason the ex-Full Moon location appealed to him is the proximity to Old Town and the ability to walk between the two establishments, depending on where he’s needed.
And its position on South Main Street puts the restaurant at the core of downtown Ann Arbor’s business district.
Both townies and visitors remember the Full Moon, giving a new bar in that space an edge, Pawlicki said.
“That’s where all the people are,” he said. “… I just love the vitality of it.”
Pawlicki said his total investment in the new venture hasn't been determined. Several building improvements need to be made — including a new heating and ventilation system — and the scope of all of it is still in flux. In addition to Behler, Pawlicki is working with other partners on the startup.
Stella’s on Main will occupy only the ground floor of the original Full Moon space at 207 S. Main, with the other half of the building — which includes upper levels — still available for lease. Both sides are 2,700-square-feet. One half had been used for pool tables at the Full Moon.
“We have a liquor license and antique bar for that other half, too,” said Jim Chaconas of Collier’s International, the listing broker. He also did the deal for Stella's on Main with colleague Brendan Cavender.
Chaconas described competition for the Full Moon space as fierce, with Pawlicki vying against several other groups — some from out of state.
His local connections gave Pawlicki the edge as Magda Gulvezan, Andy’s wife, and her advisors weighed options, Chaconas said. Gulvezan had launched several bars and restaurants in Ann Arbor over the decades and moved them around to various locations at times. But the final location of the Full Moon — which also was its first location — remained a landmark in Ann Arbor, Chaconas added.
Part of the reason was Gulvezan’s presence in the bar, which set it apart from national chains. Pawlicki sets the same tone at Old Town, Chaconas said, and he expects that to continue at Stella’s.
“We know he’ll do a good job,” Chaconas said. “Old Town is excellent. It’s clean, people enjoy being there and it has personality.”
Pawlicki said he’s wanted to start another bar/restaurant for some time. Old Town is firmly rooted in the Ann Arbor’s culture, leaving him little room to experiment with menu items and atmosphere.
The new venture, which should open in early 2011, will let him do that.
The only difference will be in the move to Main Street and its higher visibility. The area remains one of the strongest entertainment destinations in the region, he said.
“I wish there were more retail there — everybody does, I’m sure — but I’m optimistic after seeing the success of Conor O’Neill's and Jolly Pumpkin.
“Hopefully there’s room for us.”
Another of Gulvezan's former bars, the Alley Bar, was acquired over the summer by the partnership behind BTB/Goodtime Charley's.
Paula Gardner is Business News Director of AnnArbor.com. Contact her at 734-623-2586 or by email. Sign up for the weekly Business Review newsletter, distributed every Thursday, here.
Comments
Phil Dokas
Tue, Dec 28, 2010 : 10:27 a.m.
Not too off the mark, ShadowManager, with "Crowbar". The place has been redubbed The Ravens Club and is scheduled to open in February 2011: http://www.theravensclub.com/
Cindy Edwards
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 8:03 p.m.
This is so exciting. I love the name, love the idea. As one of the original Full Moon managers (bartender AND wife to Andy) I couldn't be happier!
Thor143
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 5:39 p.m.
I hope that this is not another place with $5.00 draft domestic drafts and $11.00 martinis.
djm12652
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 3:23 p.m.
Good Luck Chris...can't wait!
Killroy
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 11:22 a.m.
Chris, good luck with the new bar.
15crown00
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 10:37 a.m.
another drinking spot WOW.
4 Fingers
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 10:22 a.m.
congrats to all involved and glad its being kept local. How about retaining the name Full Moon and just updating it as planned. I mean that name has been around a long time and should have some value?
BobbyJohn
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 8:20 a.m.
It would be nice to have a bar/restaurant WITHOUT music, either live or piped in so that people can have conversations with each other without having to shout in someone's ear. Looking forward to some good food, drinks (including a thoughtfully chosen wine list) and CONVERSATION.
bruceae
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 : 7:43 a.m.
@rulieg: Yes, you might be out voted but I'm right there with you. We used to go somewhere in Ann Arbor every Friday and Saturday evening but since the smoking ban we are enjoying the bars in the Detroit Casinos where we are welcome. We will let all those non smokers that were supposed to show up support the local places
rulieg
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 9:04 p.m.
I know I'm outvoted, but I just don't enjoy the bars as much now that you can't smoke.
Hot Sam
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 8:27 p.m.
Chris, Try to find the old recipe for "Gad Zukes" the best fried zucchini thing in history!!
townie54
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 8:14 p.m.
I dont know,I think its a goofy name.It sounds like a bunch of guys spent a couple hours trying to think up names and got tired and settled on the last one. C'mon if you had money to buy a bar would you call it "Stella's"?
zags
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 5:29 p.m.
@cubicle: Have you been to the gorgeous Melange? or had a Black Label on the chilled bar at The Blue Tractor? I love the bars at The Full Moon and the old City Grill, now Jolly Pumpkin. Andy brought both of these bars down from Calumet/Laurium and they are quite beautiful. I always liked to hear Andy's story of how George Gipp always drank at the end of one those bars back in the day.
boom
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 4:53 p.m.
SemperFi, Good point!
David Briegel
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 3:34 p.m.
Wendyo, that was my very first thought. Live music at happy hour was quite prevalant in the 80's and 90's. Most of us citizens of a certain age prefer our entertainment a little earlier than the 10-2 time slot. The Chenille Sisters started at Old Town Happy Hour and Chris is tuned in to the variety of wonderful local music available.
SemperFi
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 3:05 p.m.
I can already picture people at the front, looking up to the balcony and doing their best Brando impersonation. Hey, Stella!!!
arrow saarinen
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 3:04 p.m.
The Full Moon Bar was Andy Gulvezan's first bar to be located within 2 miles of the Wiffletree Restaurant since his 2 year separation from former partner of the Wiffletree, Robby Babcock. Andy wanted a different bar for Ann Arbor then all the previous ones and hired a experienced, talented Architect who helped him design and develope Andy's Chicago style, adult, noisy bar restaurant. Andy tried the "name change"with the monkey bar to attract more people to the less successful monkey bar, but later returned the name "full moon" to it's original building.
Sarcastic1
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 2:54 p.m.
With a name like Stella's, there should be some Polish food on the menu.
naturally
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 2:36 p.m.
I love the name! Can't wait to have a Stella at Stella's
Useless
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 2:23 p.m.
Great News! Good luck in your new business venture.
cubicle
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 2:23 p.m.
I'm all for bringing businesses downtown, but I sure hope they do something to differentiate themselves from the 8,000 sit down, ten dollar hamburger, artisan beer, dark wood bars already in existence. Creative bar design isn't exactly this town's strong suit.
ShadowManager
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 2:03 p.m.
This is good news. I was getting tired of the constant namechanges and format changes of the bar formerly known as a Full Moon...CrowbaR? MoneyBar? charity poker or pool anyone? And even more tired of seeing a empty closed building in that spot all this fall.
Blackbird
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 1:56 p.m.
Keep it local! More locally-owned restaurants on Main! That's wonderful. Better quality of dining experience, when the owner is back there in the kitchen or out on the floor. The Old Town is a gem.
wendyo
Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 1:53 p.m.
PLEASE do some good live music there;-)