Yoshi's Restaurant closes after less than 6 months on East Liberty in downtown Ann Arbor
Yoshi’s Restaurant, a Middle Eastern eatery on East Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor, has closed less than six months after it opened.
Sales didn't generate the cash flow needed to keep the 40-seat restaurant afloat while it established itself, said owner Aboud Kaskorkis. He said he would know more later this week about his next move.
“When you open a restaurant, you should have operating money set aside. We ran out of money before we opened,” Kaskorkis said.
Yoshi’s closed its doors at the end of 2009 and hasn’t been open in 2010. Kaskorkis said the restaurant’s future is uncertain.
But Lyle Beckwith, property manager for Oxford Properties, which manages the building for Liberty Plaza Associates, the investment group that owns the property, said Kaskorkis was in the middle of moving out of the space at 241 E. Liberty and that new tenants are sought. Beckwith said four potential tenants already have made contact.
“There is a long time left on the lease,” said Jeff Hauptman, a managing member with Oxford Properties. “But (Kaskorkis) has asked us to find someone else.”
Dinersty, a Chinese restaurant, last occupied the 2,800-square-foot space, but was asked to leave, Hauptman said. "We felt it wasn’t a good fit.”
Kaskorkis took a year-and-a-half to ready the space, Hauptman said, and struggled with code issues with the city of Ann Arbor.
Yoshi’s opened in mid-summer to an Ann Arbor field already crowded with Middle Eastern restaurants, including long-established Jerusalem Garden just a block away.
The restaurant served Middle Eastern food such as hummus, baba ghannouj, fattoush, tabbouli and grape leaves.
Kaskorkis and co-owner Yasir Kaskorkis bumped into problems from the beginning, including the need to serve their meals on disposable plates because the city would not allow a dishwashing machine without adding a separate ventilation system.
But the space has been completely remodeled and is in turnkey condition for another restaurant, Hauptman said. “We haven’t even put it on the market yet and there has been significant interest.”
For more information on Yoshi's Restaurant, visit AnnArbor.com's restaurant guide.Â
Comments
wacky_walrus
Mon, Feb 1, 2010 : 5:16 p.m.
Yes, big chains are often your safest bet in terms of low frequency of health code violations. Each franchise operates under detailed procedures that have been been honed to perfection over the years in all of the chain's locations, whereas local places tend to be run and staffed a bit more, shall we say, idiosyncratically. But hey, that's the joy of local establishments, which I still generally prefer to most of the chains anyways :)
Steve Hendel
Fri, Jan 22, 2010 : 6:52 a.m.
Two points: 1. There was a Dinersty in downtown Plymouth which, it seems to me, closed at about the same time as the one in Ann Arbor. Am I correct? If so, perhaps "not a good fit" is a euphemism for some more specific business reason. 2. Yes, many of the local restaurants we view as "high class" have had their share of critical violations in inspection reports. Has Annarbor.com discontinued the AA News practice of printing those reports weekly? If so, why? I seem to recall that it was the more plebean establishments (McDonald's, etc.) which consistently got the best reports.
Blklight
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 3:13 p.m.
An Arabian restaurant named Yoshi's?? Where did that one come from?
ShadowManager
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 11:56 a.m.
Cockroaches, rats, and food poisoning are never "a good fit" when it comes to restaurants.
johnnya2
Tue, Jan 19, 2010 : 12:23 a.m.
I hate to break this news to the people of Ann Arbor, BUT there are restaurants with much worse violations. The other thing I would check on, is if there were pest problems, why was the landlord the one involved and not the county? Having been in most of the kitchens in this city, I bet most of you have eaten at restaurants worse than this and absolutely love them. Bad sanitation practices are especially common in ethnic restaurants owned by first generation immigrants, or under capitalized ventures.
Anonymous Commentor
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 8:05 p.m.
This is sad news, though I'm not surprised to hear it. I ate their once with my family and was very surprised by how good the food was (hands down the best chicken shawarma in Ann Arbor). The owners were also super-friendly, and I know they appreciated our business. I think this will be a tough location for any business to thrive in. I wish the owners of Yoshi's well.
ChrisW
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 5:38 p.m.
The closing of the library lot for 2 years can't possibly help businesses in that area. The final straw that killed Unos was when the South Forest structure was closed for rebuilding. I miss both Unos and Dinersty. Then again, restaurants come and go in this town. My sister still laments the closing of The Pretzel Bell.
John of Saline
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 1:42 p.m.
Aw, c'mon, Edward! Bugs provide protein and flavor! (Kidding. Too bad about the violations; when I ate there in the '90s it was good.)
Joan Lowenstein
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 1:23 p.m.
Ed, I don't know how to get the link, but there was also an incident where an entire truckload of spoiled food was headed for Dinersty and was intercepted by the State Police and maybe even the Feds. There was a photo in the Ann Arbor News when it happened. Sometimes the health requirements seem trivial, but I'm glad we have inspectors who uphold the codes rather than look the other way and endanger the public. I'm sorry about Yoshi's financial problems. I thought their food was very fresh and tasty.
Dot
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 1:05 p.m.
Dinersty, a Chinese restaurant, last occupied the 2,800-square-foot space, but was asked to leave, Hauptman said. "We felt it wasnt a good fit. When tenant is paying the rent in a timely way and abiding by their lease agreement it's hard to say "We felt it wasnt a good fit. Perhaps Hauptman's P.C./respectable way of handling the topic of Dinersty's departure.
johnnya2
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 12:57 p.m.
Never went to this restaurant, but I think any reporter worth their soul should immediately have asked a follow up as to why Dinersty was asked to leave, and what made them "not a good fit". I never ate there either, but was it because the landlord felt he could get higher rent from somebody who was not as good at negotiating? Was it because he didn't like their food? Was it because they failed to meet health or building codes? Were other tenants not happy with what they did? When Yoshi opened it wasn't like there werent other locations with lots of potential to put them in and not close down an existing place. If I were to open a restaurant at that location I would expect that question should be answered, as it tells me if I am going to want to invest in a long term lease and then find out down the line the landlord is not interested beyond short term gains.
John of Saline
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 12:26 p.m.
Dinersty was ASKED to leave? Why? They were great!
cwhite20
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 12:25 p.m.
Dinersty may not have "been a good fit" but it was definitely a vibrant business. I worked there for some time as a delivery driver, shortly before they closed, and they were consistently busy.They also served very authentic and delicious foods. What exactly are the property owners looking for in a business in that location? Something so common in this town as a generic run-of-the-mill middle eastern place? IE the seven different Pita/Kabob/falafel places I can think of. Or what? I was very bitter about Dinersty being forced out of that space.
krc
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 12:22 p.m.
Atticus F; I MISS Dinersty! Off the subject, but does anyone know where I can get their soft wide noodles? I can't find them anywhere!
wacky_walrus
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 12:04 p.m.
The food there was average. No better or worse than Jerusalem Garden. Definitely not as good as some Middle Eastern places around here.
ShadowManager
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 11:48 a.m.
I think another reason Yoshi's closed was there was no Mario and Luigi.
Moose
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 11:31 a.m.
@Alan, it wasn't your insightful comments that I directed my "anti-government" aside. It's a popular misconception that it's a "city code" because of the inconsistent and sometimes heavy handed enforcement. All construction is governed a State of MI code. It's the City's responsibility to hire not only knowledgeable inspectors but individuals who know how to balance code enforcement with a helpful public service attitude.
Alan Benard
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 11:20 a.m.
Moose: I think we agree. I'm not against the city government -- I want them to expand their role and support new local businesses. If you read what I wrote carefully, that could include telling someone who intends to be their own contractor, "That's a poor idea. You better hire someone who understands the city code."
Moose
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 11:03 a.m.
Many of the building code issues at that location were caused by the former tenants and the new business owners lack of knowledge of commercial construction. Property owners tend to not be aware or look the other way as long as the rent is paid. New business owners with little or no experience with commercial construction or remodeling experience that act as their own general contractors or hiring contractors without commercial experience is a prescription for costly problems. It's like representing yourself in court. I fail to understand why a local business failure becomes a forum for anti government comments. Lastly, It isn't government's place to educate potential business owners about the pitfalls that may lie in their path, but it is the authorities responsibility to do their work with respect and a helpful attitude. This does not extend to hand holding or code education. That's why one hires experienced general contractors.
delete this profile
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 10:34 a.m.
Sad to hear this. They had great food at reasonable prices. And the owners were very friendly, always bringing out samples to try.
Atticus F.
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 10:22 a.m.
Dinersty was at that location for about 15 years, and was very successful from what I remember. I wonder what happened all of a sudden to make them feel like Dinersty "wasnt a good fit".
Alan Benard
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 10:18 a.m.
I wish the owners well on their next steps. I read an article which made it clear that they were feeling their way through this opening, and ran up against multiple difficulties, including building-use issues from renovating the additional seating area. The city really needs to do more to support and provide guidance to young and less-experienced entrepreneurs if it wants more going concerns filling storefronts. Personal responsibility is one thing, but pointing young businesses at resources and experts before the permits are pulled would go a long way.
jondhall
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 10:09 a.m.
When you open a restaurant, you should have operating money set aside. We ran out of money before we opened, Kaskorkis said. Gee I do not know Vern, you need money to open and operate a restaurant? I thought the government took care of that, like "health care". If one does not have six months of operating capital then one needs to move to China and partner with their government. Sad part is I bet the food was good!
Bonsai
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 8:30 a.m.
you wrote: "He added that he's know more later this week about his next move." I think you meant "he'd"
Sarah
Mon, Jan 18, 2010 : 6:49 a.m.
Too bad. The food was excellent and the owners were very nice!