1. Even Mega Bookstores Aren’t Safe
Sadly, it really does seem like the literary industry’s going from brick-and-mortar to pixels-and-iPads, bookstores everywhere closing down for lack of sales. We especially get filled with sorrow when we think of one of the major mega-giants of the literary industry ending its reign completely. I am, of course, talking about Borders Group, Inc., an international book and music retailer headquartered right in Ann Arbor, Michigan. No more, though, and many residents would be sad of that fact. The end of an age can hurt.
2. Ye Left Too Soon, Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe
Who doesn’t love gourmet food, right? Even in Detroit. And Detroit residents got a kick out of “Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe,” especially with that name. It was so sad that after 16 months of business, the place had to shut down due to slow sales and high overhead. What happened after closing? A “Whole Foods” location popped up just a few blocks away. We’ll never forget the Olde Butcher Shoppe, though.
3. Swartz Creek Bakery Is Bittersweet
Residents over in Swartz Creek felt the sting and some sugar withdrawal when their beloved bakery closed down in February. It was a sad day, given the fact that this faithful bakery saw business for more than 40 years in the quaint town. Now there’s only the memory of such a place.
4. All Signs Point To Norman Corp. No More
Bay City will certainly miss its faithful sporting clothes store Norman Corp. No more Red Wing boots, hunting gear and other goodies—not to mention those familiar bright green signs. The store was a part of Bay City life for 80 years straight, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that almost every resident of northeast
Michigan and the Thumb will remember it wistfully.
5. The Towering General Motors
Only time will tell if this mega monster of the automotive era will ever rise to the same standard it held for countless decades. GM helped make Detroit into Motor City USA, and since it filed for bankruptcy it’s been an uphill battle…but who knows? Maybe they’ll come back with a roar.
6. Memories At Pooh’s Corner
It’s no fun when a little “shop around the corner” leaves for good, and this one in Grand Rapids really stung. Literary lovers fell to the ground in tears when beloved Pooh’s Corner closed this year after an incredible run of 38 years, delivering the goods in literature for kids. Talk about family-owned, family-run, and family-unforgettable.
7. The Silverdome Is Silent
There was something ominously awesome about the massive Pontiac Silverdome. Michigan’s crown jewel was the site of Wrestlemania II and the lair of the Detroit Lions, before it was abandoned when the Lions left for Ford Field back in 2001. Who knows what will be in the Silverdome’s future, but it won’t be screaming football fans anymore.
8. The Curtain Has Risen At Studio 28 For The Last Time
Cinemas all across the country close all the time. Why should this one in Grand Rapids be any different? Well, the iconic Studio 28 right on main 28th Street saw business for an astonishing 43 years and was the largest theater complex in the country at the time. It was a staple of the city until the competition killed it. You can actually see ground zero today, as the entire structure has already been demolished. So sad.
9. Sad News for Ann Arbor News
As sad as the Ann Arbor residents were over their beloved newspaper printing its last edition, it’s nothing compared to how the writers and editors felt. It was a defining moment for the city, given the newspaper’s arduous journey since 1835. Founder Earl P. Gardiner never knew how long his paper would last. Luckily, though, this phenomenon of stellar reporting and news continues in the form of an online successor dubbed simply “MLive.com.”
10. Actual Wolverines In The Wolverine State
Two centuries ago the land was teeming with those rabid critters. However, they’re long gone, and many biologists and University of Michigan lovers long for the day they all spot one again. There was one reported back in 2004, about 90 miles north of Detroit. Was it really one of our clawed legends? Maybe we’ll never know.
11. No More Costumes for Fantasy Attic
Residents of Ypsilanti, Michigan are at a loss for what to do on Halloween without their go-to for fantastic costumes at Fantasy Attic Costumes. For 27 years the store thrived on helping people pretend to be someone else. But no matter how fun the costumes were, they didn’t last. The business went with a bang, though, closing right on New Year’s Eve 2013.
12. The Shoe Is on the Last Foot With Van Hoecks
The age of comfy local shoe stores with personalized service are long gone, especially in Grand Rapids now that Van Hoecks Shoes has said goodbye forever. Now residents have to get shoes from faceless places like Walmart or Meijer, when all they wanted was a nice conversation with some locals and store associates while trying on pairs of shoes without feeling rushed. Van Hoecks was in business downtown for an amazing 70 years before closing down.
13. Speaking of Food, We’ve Got a Fresh, But Sad, Look at the Fresh Market
Grand Rapids had a brief but intense affair with fresh produce and quality customer service like you’d find at a farmer’s market in the phenomenal “Fresh Market.” With a premium on service, presentation, and of course freshness, customers loved it. Their pocketbooks didn’t, however, and engulfed in the whirlwinds of insanely low Meijer and Walmart prices the Fresh Market flopped big time.
14. The Final Song Has Been Sung for Herb David Guitar Studio
Many Ann Arbor music lovers will remember this hidden guitar studio, since it opened way back in 1962 in the basement of Bob Marshall’s bookstore on State Street. We’re talking about great tenure here, as it was only recently that the studio closed down. March 31st, to be exact. Herb David, you were gone too soon.
15. No Last Call For Kopper Top
If there’s one thing Grand Rapids is known for, it’s beer. And the “Block of Beers” or “Block of Bars” (BOB for short) knew their hops. They were a mainstay of the city, but their reign finally came to an end in 2014 after a remarkable 42 years in service. Kopper Top was at its prime, for sure – but apparently all good things have to come to an end.
16. So Long to Rudy’s Red Lion
Diners, drive-ins and dives are the bread and butter of American road food. Bay City had one of those staples, too—and it was one of the best. Rudy J’s Diner (or Rudy’s Gastropub & Grill) had three locations, and a colorful identity for a diner. Sadly, the doors closed on this American classic for good back in March.
17. We’ll Miss the Eggrolls, House of Chan
Who doesn’t love Chinese? Since 1952 the House of Chan in Muskegon was the figurehead of what people think of when they hear “Chinese food.” Owner Joe Chan (who had run the restaurant since 1968) was faced with a difficult decision in 2011: Suffer major losses or close up shop. You’ll never be forgotten.
18. There Was No Mercy For Mercy’s Restaurant
We sometimes overuse the term “gone too quickly,” but Mercy’s Restaurant in Ann Arbor was the very definition. Many customers were saddened, but the beloved owners didn’t say goodbye for good—they simply chose to settle down and enjoy their family. Definitely a silver lining.
19. And Second Chance Clothing Should Have Gotten A...Well, You Know
When you match affordability with clothing, you get a winning combination. Unfortunately you also get competition. Second Chance Clothing in Grand Rapids saw the writing on the wall, even with all volunteers working in the establishment to ensure the service had some heart built in. The store had a 3-year run, so let’s all remember that instead of the fact that they closed back in June.
20. Michiganders Will Have To Travel For Caribou Coffee
This is a pretty interesting story, given the fact that Caribou Coffee was originally based out of Minnesota. Since the chain’s opening and then underperformance of 80 stores back in April, the company rethought its business strategy and closed out the brand for those 80 stores. 22 of those stores are, unfortunately, right in Michigan. Totally unfair—everyone gets to enjoy the beans of the Caribou except the Wolverine State!
21. The Heyday Of Drive-in Theaters
Those were the days… When you could pull up in your car in front of a giant white screen and watch a double feature curled up in the car any day of the week. Michigan used to be the king of drive-ins back in the ‘50s, but now there are maybe ten still plugging away in the entire state. The Dove Drive-in on Monroe Street in Grand Rapids was one of the most popular around, but no longer. Sigh.
22. Michigan Brewing Company Beer...At Least Without A Search
The passion for good booze is all here in Michigan, but maybe it was just never meant to fly. The Michigan Brewing Company in Traverse City tried to make a dent back in 1996, and even won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival. Sadly, it couldn’t keep up the profits. You might find a bottle of the brand lurking about Lansing if you look close enough.
23. Mr. Wally Bronner, The “Christmas King”
Head over to Frankenmuth, Michigan, and you’ll see a certain theme: Christmas. And not just during the holiday season. We’re talking about all year round thanks to one place known as “Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland,” a retail establishment largely touted as the most massive Christmas store in all the nation. And of course, thanks to the man who made it all possible, Wally Bronner himself. A business this big will never fail, but the man who brought Christmas to everyone died back in 2008.
What do you miss in Michigan? Tell us in the comments below!
