Slim Chickens, 5505 Arbor Chase Drive in Scio Township on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — A highly anticipated chicken restaurant has opened near Ann Arbor while a beloved breakfast and lunch spot has closed its doors in Dexter.
Here are those stories and some other Washtenaw County business news stories you may have missed.
Over 700 workers were laid off at these Washtenaw and Jackson county businesses in 2024
Hundreds of jobs were affected in 2024 as various companies across both Washtenaw and Jackson counties announced plans to close or downsize their operations.
In total, eight companies, most in Washtenaw County, announced 735 layoffs in 2024. NeuMoDx Molecular Inc. in Ann Arbor laid off the most workers, 175.
Read the full story here.
Slim Chickens has opened its first full-service Michigan location
Craving a chicken sandwich near Ann Arbor? A new fast-casual restaurant can help with that.
Slim Chickens officially opened Jan. 6 at 5505 Arbor Chase Drive in Scio Township west of Ann Arbor. This new location marks the brand’s first free-standing, full-service Michigan restaurant.
Read the full story here.
Beloved Dexter breakfast, lunch spot closes due to lease dispute
A beloved downtown Dexter breakfast and lunch spot has closed after a dispute with the site’s landlord.
Hours for a few final days in business at Dexter Riverview Café, 8124 Main St., were shared on Facebook. Owner Albana Hoxha confirmed on Friday, Jan. 10, that the family restaurant had closed.
Read the full story here.
‘It was his place’: Downtown Home & Garden mourns loss of beloved shop cat Wallace
Ann Arbor’s Downtown Home & Garden is feeling the loss of one important, furry employee.
The shop’s beloved orange tabby cat, Wallace, died at the estimated age of 18 on Jan. 2.
“He just walked around like the boss. It was (Wallace’s) place,” said Owner Kelly Vore. “He had just such a nice swagger about him and was always a gentleman.”
Read the full story here.
Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea offers Asian-inspired drinks with real ingredients in Ann Arbor
Customers have been sipping on drinks at Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea in downtown Ann Arbor for more than 30 years now.
Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea serves customers globally inspired drinks with a focus on using real ingredients along with a menu full of pastries like croissants, cookies, cakes and scones.
Read the full story here.
A new business will fill former Jim Brady’s space in downtown Ann Arbor
New life is coming to a vacant building in downtown Ann Arbor as a restaurant gets ready to open.
The storefront at 209 S. Main St., which was formerly Jim Brady’s, will soon transform into an Asian fusion restaurant called Tabe.
Read the full story here.
What’s that? New Thai restaurant plans replacing closed Greek mainstay in Ann Arbor
Downtown Ann Arbor will soon have a spot to get a fresh, warm plate of Pad Thai from lunch until dawn.
A new restaurant called Eat Thai is planning to open at 332 S. Main St., which was KouZina Greek Street Food’s former building before it closed in December 2023. The business will be run by Chef Teerawat “Apple” Pho-On with the help of General Manager Jay Armani.
Read the full story here.
These noodles will fly off your plate at Godaiko near Ann Arbor
Flying noodles and sushi nachos are just a couple of items on the menu at Godaiko near Ann Arbor.
Godaiko’s menu features a fusion of Asian flavors with sushi, ramen, fried rice, poke bowls, stir fry and appetizers like edamame, miso soup, shrimp spring rolls and pork belly buns.
Read the full story here.
Revamped Mindo Chocolate Makers Ann Arbor store plans to expand offerings
Colorful murals of Quetzal birds and a large cacao tree now fill the walls of Mindo Chocolate Makers’ storefront in Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown.
Mindo Chocolate Makers, a bean-to-bar chocolatier, has recently remodeled the store at 206 N. 4th Ave. The space has not only received cosmetic changes, but it now has seating for customers. The business also plans to make some products on-site and teach classes.
Read the full story here.
Earthen Jar to open 2nd location in Ypsilanti with state funding help
An Ann Arbor restaurant is set to bring new life to a long-vacant Ypsilanti storefront with its second location.
Earthen Jar is known for offering a mostly vegan Indian buffet at 311 S. Fifth Ave. in Ann Arbor.
Manager Sim Sethi confirmed the family-run business is expanding and rehabilitating the vacant Ypsilanti storefront at 406 W. Michigan Ave. with the help of a state grant.
Read the full story here.
Here are some new businesses that opened in Ann Arbor in 2024
There were a variety of new businesses that opened in Ann Arbor in 2024, including a restaurant focused on serving weird pizza, a fast-casual restaurant specializing in gourmet toast and a bar dedicated to the city’s LGBTQ+ community.
Read the full story here.
Here are businesses that opened in 2024 in Washtenaw County
2024 was quite the year for new business openings around Washtenaw County.
New businesses include a Himalayan restaurant in Scio Township, a Detroit-style pizza spot in downtown Saline and a plant-based restaurant serving Coney Island classics in Ypsilanti.
Read the full story here.
These Ann Arbor businesses closed in 2024
The business scene in Ann Arbor changed quite a bit in 2024, especially as many longtime businesses closed their doors for good.
Read the full story here.
These Washtenaw County businesses closed in 2024
New businesses may have popped up across Washtenaw County in 2024, but there were still some that closed.
Read the full story here.
Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbo news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Ann Arbor” daily newsletter.
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