The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Longtime shop leaving Depot Town
Depot Town could have eight empty store fronts
By Dan DuChene, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 3, 2008
Depot Town might look a little different this year, as up to eight storefronts could be vacated by businesses on East Cross Street.
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After nine years in Ypsilanti, Quinn's Essentials, which occupies three spaces, will be closing at the end of the month. Apotheke, which occupied one space, closed its doors Monday. Finally, Esquire Interiors, which occupies four spaces, is looking to move to Ann Arbor.
"It's sad," Kay Wawrzaszek said while shopping at Quinn's Essentials last week.
A life-long Ypsilanti resident, Wawrzaszek said she has shopped at both Apotheke and Quinn's Essentials since the stores have opened.
Mary Beth Strassel, who co-owns Quinn's Essentials with her husband Ray, said she plans to travel with her husband and go back to work, but they don't have any firm plans.
"We're a little unsure right now," she said. "It's a challenging economy."
Strassel said her children are older and the only vacations she and her husband have taken since the store opened have been "working vacations." She said she hopes to eventually get a job teaching again, which is what she had done before she opened the store. Her husband was a business manager in transportation.
The store has been running a sale for the past several weeks, and has sold about 90 percent of its stock. Strassel said the store will remain open until the end of the month.
"We love Ypsilanti," she said. "It's been nice to create something for the community."
Sue Okenski, who owns Apotheke, said she closed the doors on her store because she wants to move to a different area, and "take a nap."
A Milan resident, Okenski originally opened her gift store in Milan six years ago. She moved it to Ypsilanti three years later. Now that her children are grown, she hopes to rest and volunteer with the Humane Society.
Some feel the stores closing could have a negative impact on Depot Town and the city. As both serve as destination stores, some core customers might not return to Ypsilanti after the stores are closed.
"I feel badly," she said. "I think it will have a major effect on Depot Town."
Katherine Gordon, who owns Gordon's Five and Dime (located next to Quinn's Essentials), said many of their now regular customers came to Depot Town for Quinn's Essentials.
"They were the ones who really drew the college crowd," Gordon said of Apotheke.
Linda French, who owns Sidetrack Bar and Grill, said she's sorry to see the stores go, but life will go on in Depot Town.
"This is kind of a thing that just goes on," French said. "I'm sure they will not have any problems filling those spaces."
She said foot traffic from Depot Town restaurants and festivals, good parking and low rents will keep the stores from remaining vacant for too long.
"Every time something changes in Depot Town it becomes just as interesting," French said.
Gordon and Wawrzaszek agreed, and said they hope to see another retail store fill those spaces as soon as possible.
As to trying to obtain store products after this month, Strassel said she and her husband plan to locate in tradeshows this fall and Okenski said she plans to attend the next Shadow Art Fair. Additionally, those looking for Apotheke original soap are asked to send an email to shopapotheke@msn.com.
The debate now is to what people would like to see in those spaces. Wawrzaszek said she would like to see a resale pet supplies store. Gordon said she would like to see a bookstore or record shop.
"It doesn't really matter to me," French said. "I'd just like it be an open door business."
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