Signs up on the old Kaplan Test Prep and Instant Furniture building that say “Coming Soon” with a picture of what appears to be a brewery? Could this be the venture with Jolly Pumpkin? No website or anything, so that’s all I know.
Liberty Street
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Last time I talked to Ron Jeffries (of Jolly Pumpkin), he said they were “looking at” a space “on Main St.” But that’s the most specific he would get.
Back in December 2008, Tina Reed of the A2News reported that a business called Northern United Brewing was going into that space, to “make, bottle and sell beer, wine and distilled spirits…” Plans for a tasting room and restaurant were in the works, too.
More from her article:
“The managers behind downtown brewing restaurants Grizzly Peak Brewing Co. and the recently opened Blue Tractor Cook Shop and Dexter-based Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales are behind the company. Northern United Brewing owns the Jolly Pumpkin Artisan and Grizzly Peak brands, as well as North Peak, a brand served in one of the restaurants in Traverse City. Ron Jefferies, owner of Jolly Pumpkin, will serve as president of the new company.”
I have a picture of this sign up on Flickr. Regarding Jolly Pumpkin, there’s a 1/7/2009 article from the Michigan Daily about Jeffrey’s progress and thinking. I read this when it was published and then later that month went to Corner Brewery for a beer tasting class held by Rene Greff I mentioned my excitement over Jolly Pumpkin coming to Ann Arbor and she said it had fallen through. She being on the DDA committee I’d assume she knew what she was talking about. But who knows, perhaps the plans are back on? This is all hearsay so I don’t know how much I’d invest in this, but clearly there’s some discovering to do here.
Got a report this morning that the long empty “pepperz” restaurant (which was pretty good, btw) is now being renovated for the Jolly Pumpkin bar! Great location. Hope the stingy landlord doesn’t try to price yet another establishment out of this building though.