📖 A $1 library deal and last call at B-Dubs

Morning, Ann Arbor!  One week after the EF-1 rolled through, the debris trucks are working block by block and last Monday night's council meeting may go down as the biggest one in 44 years.

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Reader Count: 4,551 townies

Percent of Ann Arbor Reading: 3.70%

🏛️ A New Downtown Library, 10,000 Square Feet of Public Space, and Mixed-Income Housing. For $1.

The City Council voted April 20 to sell the air rights above the Library Lane site to the Ann Arbor District Library for one dollar. In return, the Library will build a new downtown branch, connect it to the current library by a pedestrian bridge, and put mixed-income housing and a new 10,000-square-foot public plaza on top. The current library stays open through at least 2029. Developer RFPs go out this fall. WEMU

☕ Ann Arbor Now Has Five Yemeni Coffee Shops (and a Sixth Coming to Liberty)

Jabal opened on East Huron in March. Bayt Almocha has been pouring in Kerrytown since last June. Bun Chai, Qahwah House, and Socotra are all up and running, and Caffeena is preparing to open on East Liberty. Zero alcohol, serious coffee, quiet tables, open late. Michigan Daily

🍔 Le Mec coming to Liberty & First

Local restaurateur Adam Baru, owner of Mani Osteria, is bringing a French-inspired bistro to the corner building across from Blank Slate at W. Liberty and S. First. It's called Le Mec, named after the cult-favorite burger from Mikette, his Plymouth Rd. spot that closed in 2020. Stop by for a burger, walk across the street for ice cream at Blank Slate. Sign us up. Baru picked up the building for $1,362,500 in late December after Aroma closed.

🍗 Last Call for Buffalo Wild Wings on State Street

The B-Dubs at 205 S. State St. closes Sunday, May 3, after 22 years. Manager Paul Creely picked that Sunday on purpose: it is Commencement weekend, so the restaurant gets to host one last batch of grads and families before turning off the lights. The 3150 Boardwalk Drive location at State and Ellsworth stays open. MLive

🧁 Molly's Cupcakes Downtown is Officially Closed

The 617 E. Liberty location served its last cupcake on Saturday, April 18. The handwritten note in the window thanked Ann Arbor for being so welcoming. The Chicago-based chain's other locations are still going.

Closings are the hardest ones to write. We love this town and we want downtown to thrive, so we'll keep telling you what's opening and what's not. In the meantime, go buy something from a local business this week. ❤️

🍺 The Big House Has Sold Nearly $15 Million in Beer Since 2024

Two seasons of in-stadium alcohol sales are in the books. Raw sales cleared $15 million. UM kept about $2.3 million in year one and $1.69 million in year two. Coors Light won in a landslide at 211,519 cans sold, with Modelo second at 116,972. The Zach Bryan concert alone drove $911,548 in alcohol sales, which was 61% of concessions that night. MLive

🌳 Tree Town vs. DTE, again.

DTE crews were back on W. Jefferson in the Old West Side Saturday, taking chainsaws to the canopy along the power lines. Topped trees, V-shaped oddities with the middles carved out. Same fight MLive covered in 2021. DTE says aggressive cutting reduces outages. Ann Arbor says we're called Tree Town for a reason.

🤝 The Washtenaw Housing Alliance Is Pairing Older Adults with Roommates

The Washtenaw Housing Alliance launched a Shared Housing Program matching home providers (55+) with seekers who need a room. Rent caps at $750 a month. Coordinator Danielle Bryant told MLive it's "not your traditional landlord tenant agreement." Info session Thursday, April 30 at 1:30 p.m. at AADL Pittsfield Branch, 2359 Oak Valley Drive. MLive

❤️ Bach School Lost Its Maple Tree and Todd the Turtle

The April 17 EF-1 took down Bach Elementary's century-old maple and Todd the Turtle, the green play structure kids have climbed on for 20-plus years. The playground reopened within days with fresh wood chips. Staff built a remembrance wall where scholars can leave notes for Todd. The school is gathering input on a replacement. A2 Schools

🍄 Morel Season Is Officially On in Michigan

The Michigan DNR just dropped the 2026 Mi-Morels map, which highlights more than 90 burn sites from 2025 wildfires and prescribed burns. Southwest Michigan is already open. The window reaches Washtenaw County within a week or two. Soil temp to watch is 50 degrees, and the old foragers' tip still holds: look near dead elms and old apple orchards. Good luck. WTVB

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On the Market

1214 Pomona Rd — $649,000 4 bed | 2 bath | 2,031 sqft — Mid-century modern ranch in Upper Water Hill, fully reno'd. Quartz waterfall counters, induction cooktop, hidden dishwasher. Walk to Bird Hills, Wines Elementary, and Forsythe. Five days on market. Already under contract. Last sold in 2021 for $456K.

311 Awixa Rd — $1,425,000 4 bed | 4bath | 3,239 sqft — A 100-year-old storybook colonial in the Arboretum on a .48-acre lot. Original hardwoods and doors paired with the updates that matter — new HVAC, gas fireplace, Bosch/Thermador/Sub-Zero kitchen. Three floors of living with a flex space up top. Last sold for $1M in 2020.

2124 Brockman Blvd — $1,675,000 4 bed | 4 bath | 3,522 sqft — Burns Park colonial. Renovated kitchen, 2024 primary bath, two patios, detached garage. Walk to Burns Park Elementary, Tappan, and Pioneer. Last sold for $1.42M in 2023.

Adoptable Humane Society Pets

Breezy — 16 years | Small Female | Domestic Shorthair A chatty senior cat who calls herself "set in my ways" and would like to be your only cat. Meet Breezy

Maroon — 3 years | Large Male | Boxer Mix A sweet, sensitive goofball who loves squirrel watching, tennis balls, and playing tag. In foster since last May, so he has been waiting a while. Meet Maroon

Charlie Bucket — 9 years | Medium Male | Domestic Shorthair A laidback lap cat who just wants a warm seat and a forever family. Meet Charlie Bucket

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

— Ryan, James, and The Michigander Team

P.S. — If you like what you read, subscribe below.

P.P.S. — Jalen Rose (Detroit native) is headlining Spring Commencement at the Big House on Saturday, May 2. Gates open at 8 a.m., ceremony at 10. U-M Record

P.P.P.S. — Zingerman's dropped a new Tastemaker Series box Friday with cookbook author Anna Hezel. Eight items, including a Zzang candy bar and Taralli olive oil crackers, plus her "Party Tricks" cookbook. Built for Mother's Day by accident. MLive

P.P.P.P.S. — Know someone who loves Ann Arbor as much as you do? Starting today, refer 15 people to The Michigander and we'll send you a free mug as a small thanks. Michigander

P.P.P.P.P.S. — Ann Arbor just ranked #3 in the country on the new Geography of Prosperity Index, scoring high on climate, tech, and population renewal.

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