Stucchi's ice cream shop on State Street is searching for new location
The Stucchi's ice cream shop located at 302 South State Street in Ann Arbor may relocate to another location downtown.
Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com
Shop manager Jacob Mertz said the shop doesn't want to pay the steep rent at 302 South State St. after the shop's lease expires at the end of the year.
“We’d really like to see the rent lowered,” Mertz said. “It’s just way too high.”
Stucchi’s is located between Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Ben & Jerry’s where the University of Michigan's main campus meets downtown Ann Arbor on State Street. The Stucchi's franchise owner, Ashvin Amin, also owns the shop at 1121 South University Avenue.
Mertz said that when the State Street lease expires on December 31, the owner of the shop hopes to relocate to another location in downtown Ann Arbor.
“We’d like to stay downtown,” Mertz said. “Like maybe somewhere on Main Street.”
Although the State Street Stucchi’s is located immediately next door to Ben & Jerry’s, Mertz said that competition is not a factor in the decision to relocate.
“We’re doing fine,” he said. “We do just as well as they do.”
With owner Amin looking to relocate, real estate broker Deb Pearson of Bluestone Realty Advisors has the 1,500-square-foot space listed for $42 per square foot per year. The landlord for the State Street property is the Oxford Companies, owned by Jeff Hauptman.
Pearson said that although it’s unclear whether Amin will ultimately decide to renew his lease, she is marketing the space to “look at other options.” She said she has already had interest in the space, which is situated in one of the area's hottest leasing markets.
“We’ve had a couple calls about the space,” Pearson said. “Some were about Mediterranean places, and there were a couple people interested in a bakery.”
But because Pearson said that area is “saturated with food places,” the landlord is asking for non-food uses for the building.
“We would actually rather not put food in that location, so the non-food uses are the ones we’re going to be the most interested in,” Pearson said.
Stucchi's was started in Ann Arbor in 1986 by two brothers, according to the company's website. A second location opened downtown in 1987, and the business has since expanded to several locations in Michigan.
In 2008, Stucchi's Ice Cream was sold to Michigan-based Papa Romano's Enterprises, which also owns Mr. Pita.
Stucchi’s interest in relocating comes in the midst of several changes to downtown Ann Arbor real estate.
Among the recent developments:
--La Marsa Mediterranean Cuisine plans to open at 301 S. State St. in the former Cosi space this summer.
--Big Boy’s @burger restaurant at 505 E. Liberty St. closed for business this week.
--La Pita Fresh opened at 529 E. Liberty St. in the former Beyond Juice location in May.
--Squares Restaurant at 241 E. Liberty St. closed for summer vacation this week.
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
LBH
Thu, Jun 30, 2011 : 7:40 p.m.
Head out toward the Packard and Platt area! I have missed Stucci's ever since they moved off of Washtenaw and, sorry, but Coldstone Creamery is not anywhere near as tasty, in my opinion of course.
Karen Farmer
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 7:26 p.m.
What about Kerrytown? A
mr_annarbor
Wed, Jun 29, 2011 : 1:39 p.m.
Landlords charge that much because they can get businesses to pay it. It won't be empty for long, especially with North Quad, just a block away.
RUKiddingMe
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 10:49 p.m.
More high rent puts another empty storefront in Ann Arbor. The landlords and real estate folks that own way too much of this town should go through a few years of nothing in any of these buildings; this place is New York City rent with New York City property taxes, and it makes it hard to have anyone BUT big chains move in. I'm actually surprised the big chains don't give this place the finger just because of the ridiculous prices.
clark
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 6:55 p.m.
I always thought it was pretty ironic how Ben & Jerry's moved in next door to the hometown shop, Stucchi's, despite all their talk and posturing as partners with the community, and their mission to fight social injustice. The tables at Ben & Jerry's have significant company milestones printed on them, like the founding of their community foundation. I've always wondered if someday they'll add selling out to Unilever (the big international food conglomerate) to that list. I hope Stucchi's finds a new home. One thing that worries me about a move to Main St. is accessibility. I'm willing to do the parking space hunt to go out to dinner, but not so much just to stop for ice cream. I miss the Stucchi's on Washtenaw with easy and convenient free parking.
johnnya2
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 8:25 p.m.
Or like Stucchis selling out to Papa Ramano's? Check the record of Ben and Jerry sover that of Stucchis when it comes to community giving. The Unilever purchase allows MUCH higher giving to people. The fact is Stucchis has a history of opening and closing locations. Howw is that one on Washtenaw or in the mall doing with ZERO competition right next to them. In fact, I will submit having a competitor next door increases their business. If the line at Ben and Jerrys is too long, people may go next door and it increase activity in that area for the after dinner early evening crowd who will walk over to State Street after having dinner.
Kellie Carbone
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 6:23 p.m.
I think that this could be a great idea. Regardless of whether the owner's say competition is a factor or not, I have always felt that Ben and Jerry's decision to move in next door was pretty shady.We always make a point to support Stucci's over Ben and Jerry's, which we can get in any grocery store in town. I think a move closer to main street could give Stucci's the boost that it needs. If it turns out that Squares is closing, maybe that could be a good option too. And please--no more mediterranean food places. Can we say saturated?
Robert
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 5:01 p.m.
Stucchi's . I spend more time on main street so a location down there would be a winner.
Emma B
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 4:48 p.m.
I hope they don't move too far-- I always preferred this location when I was on campus. Although it was always odd to me to see the rival stores right next to each other.
Sarah
Tue, Jun 28, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
Maybe they could move to the spot opening where @ Burger has been?