Downtown Home & Garden Announced December Closing

Morning, Ann Arbor! We’ve officially crossed the 4,000 reader mark! Pretty wild. That’s more than the population of South Haven. In Ann Arbor terms that’s 61% of Yost, 29% of Crisler Center, and 3.7% of the Big House.

Thanks for reading along each week - it means a lot.

Read Time: 3.5 minutes

Reader Count: 4,015 townies

Percent of Ann Arbor Reading: 3.34%

🪴 Downtown Home & Garden: After more than 100 years in business, Downtown Home & Garden (210 S. Ashley) announced last week that they would permanently close on December 24. Citing “insurmountable” financial burdens, the Downtown Home & Garden stated they were experiencing “pre-pandemic volume with post-pandemic expenses”. The business first opened in 1906.

🏙️ Proposals A and B: Tomorrow is election day for Proposal A and B. Ann Arborites will decide on two linked charter amendments - Proposal A would allow the city to transfer its air rights above Library Lane and a neighboring parcel to the Ann Arbor District Library for a mixed‑use library project, while Proposal B would repeal a 2018 amendment that requires the parking‑structure site be developed as an urban park.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m and eligible residents can still register in person at the clerk’s office until the polls close.

🌲 Treeline Bridge: Last week Treeline Conservancy presented City Council with new concept renderings for the “gateway bridge” that would carry the Treeline Trail over North Main Street (click here for the 13-page PDF that includes some helpful background info). Treeline Conservancy co‑chair Norman Herbert said the goal is to create an iconic crossing that marks the trail’s entrance with “beauty and a wow factor,” offering a scenic new way for pedestrians and cyclists to access downtown.

TODAY’S SPONSOR: Ann Arbor Drugs

💉 No Lines This Flu Shot Season: Flu, RSV, Covid shots—knock them out fast at Ann Arbor Drugs. Walk in, roll up a sleeve, then treat yourself next door (we’re located between Baskin-Robbins and Little Caesars, we won’t judge). Transfer a prescription while you’re here and we’ll toss in a free Ann Arbor Drugs mug.

Meet the Guldals, the husband-and-wife owners behind Ann Arbor Drugs, and see how a family-run pharmacy makes staying healthy feel personal again. Come see us at 1948 W Stadium Blvd or find us on Facebook.

🥪 East Coast Subs: Penn Station, a popular East Coast sub shop, has opened its first Washtenaw County location at 5627 Jackson Road (in the shopping center connected to the Meijer parking lot). The new restaurant offers hot and cold subs, cheesesteaks, fresh‑cut fries and lemonade. Penn Station joins Five Guys and Wing Snob as new tenants in the shopping center.

🚚 Semi Lane Ban: State Rep. Will Bruck introduced a bill to ban semi‑trucks from the leftmost lane on three‑lane freeways after motorists complained about rigs clogging traffic. The Michigan Trucking Association supports the idea, while MDOT remains neutral. An estimated 120 signs costing $250,000 would be needed to enforce the proposed bill.

🍼 Mama’s Mobile Milk: Through a new state‑funded program, incarcerated mothers at Michigan’s Huron Valley women’s prison can pump breast milk and have it delivered to their babies on the outside. Volunteers from Mama’s Mobile Milk collect the milk, store it in a new prison lactation room funded by a $500,000 state appropriation, and deliver it to infants in the care of relatives. Senator Sue Shink noted that the deliveries not only nourish babies but also show them the love of a mom who can’t be there.

🎸 Thursday’s Sonic Lunch Concert: Andrew Horowitz (of Tally Hall) & Friends

• Style: Indie Rock

• Popularity: 2.4 million monthly Spotify listeners

• Top Song: “Hidden In The Sand” with 306 million streams

• Links to Listen: Spotify or Apple Music

• Concert Details: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm on the corner of Liberty and Division in downtown Ann Arbor

ON THE MARKET

3 Bed | 1 Bath | 1,232 Sqft | $389,300

4 Bed | 3 Bath | 1,999 Sqft | $679,900

4 Bed | 6 Bath | 7,170 Sqft | $1,995,000

ADOPTABLE HUMANE SOCIETY PETS

Charmallow | 2 months | Female

Tina | 13 years | Female

That's all for now! Have a great week in Tree Town!

- Andrew

P. P. S. - Phillip Phillips + Bubbles at last week’s Sonic Lunch

P. P. P. S. - The Dexter Summer Festival is this weekend

P. P. P. P. S. - An inside look at Coratti’s (the restaurant that moved into the old Cottage Inn space at 512 E William)

P. P. P. P. P. S. - Thanks to Ann Arbor Drugs for sponsoring this week’s Michigander.

Interested in advertising in the Michigander? Click here for pricing. Bulk discounting available.