2024 - Ann Arbor Year In Review

Morning, Ann Arbor! And welcome to the last Michigander of the year! To close out 2024, this morning’s newsletter will be a walk down memory lane with 50+ bullet points of local news stories from this year. Enjoy!

Read Time: 4.5 minutes

Reader Count: 3,584 townies

Percent of Ann Arbor Reading: 2.98%

☃️ In January:

• Michigan won the college football national championship and had a parade through town

• Moosejaw closed their Main Street location

• Zingerman’s partnered with Gilson Snow to launch Zingerman’s-themed skis and snowboards

• Ann Arbor City Council voted unanimously (9-0) to lift a city-wide ban on front-yard solar panels

💕 In February:

• Base Camp, a Himalayan restaurant, opened off Jackson Road

• After facing public opposition, developers rescinded their proposal to convert the downtown Kline lot into a Sports Illustrated resort

• The Original Cottage Inn Pizza Restaurant closed

• Q Bakehouse, an Asian American bakery, opened off Jackson Ave

• Hear.Say Brewing + Theater, a microbrewery with live comedy, opened off Liberty

🍀 In March:

• Pita Way, a Michigan-based Mediterranean chain, opened two new locations in town (off William Street and off Jackson Road)

• Black Pearl announced they would be expanding next door into the former Main Streets Starbucks location

• Michigan Basketball announced Dusty May as the new head coach

   

☔️ In April:

• We learned Harbaugh had been living in an RV by the ocean (and yes, we got an MTV cribs-style video tour)

• The Historic District Commission unanimously approved Pretzel Bell’s request to build a rooftop deck

• The Bar at 327 Braun Court announced their closing

• Michigan Theater Foundation, the non-profit behind the Michigan Theater and the State Theater, rebranded to Marquee Arts 

• Pinball Pete’s secured a 20-year-lease on Liberty Street

🌷 In May:

• Dibella’s Subs reopened off Eisenhower

• The city launched the A2ZERO Home Energy Advisor (HEA) program

• The Arb’s Peony Garden did not disappoint

☀️ In June:

• Iggy’s Eggies opened off Liberty

• The Sweetwaters on Liberty closed

• Getup Vintage moved to 4th Ave

• Arbor Brewing Co. purchased the Session Room on Jackson

• Moon Winks Café opened a tavern next door

• Samba Bowls opened on Washington

TODAY’S SPONSOR: The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance

🎉 Collage Concert 2025: Don’t miss the one-of-a-kind Collage Concert on Saturday, January 18th, 8pm at Hill Auditorium. Collage features 30 different amazing numbers – music of all kinds, opera, musical theatre, dance, theatre – performed without pause. Fun for all ages! You won’t want to miss it.

🍦 In July: 

• Good Morning America came to town

• Treetown Murals completed their art mural on the railroad bridge over Huron Street

• Molly’s Cupcakes opened off Liberty

• MilkShake Factory opened off Maple Road

🍉 In August: 

• Toastique opened off Washington

• The city announced a new 0.6-mile segment of the B2B trail through Barton Nature Area

• Heritage Collegiate Apparel, the company that operated The M Den, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy

• The city launched Ask Ann, an AI chatbot

🏈 In September:

• College Gameday came to town

• Joe Biden signed an executive order in Ann Arbor

• Ann Arbor selected a new city flag

• The Downtown Ann Arbor Social District expanded to run all the way from 1st Street to Thayer

• Rally House purchased the old M Den locations on State Street, Main Street, and the game-day pop-up across from the Big House at a bankruptcy auction

 🎃 In October:

• Madras Masala opened a second location off Broadway St

• Haymaker closed

• Sushi Town and Jack's Hardware closed

• Cherry Republic opened its expanded store and wine bar on Main Street

• The new Gallup Park Bridge opened

• Kamala Harris held a rally in Burns Park

 🍂 In November:

• Bitty and Beau's closed

• The city announced a new temporary dog park at Vet’s Park

• Miny’s Mexican Restaurant opened an Ann Arbor location off Broadway Street

• Pizza Cat Max opened on Packard Street

• VKitchen closed

 🎄 In December:

• Planet Fitness opened a new location in Briarwood

• Isalita Cantina announced their closing (this Friday is their last day)

• Pretzel Bell opened a National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation-themed bar

• Miss Kim announced a new, grab-and-go restaurant in Kerrytown

ON THE MARKET

4 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,634 Sqft | $487,000

2 Bed | 1 Bath | 1,145 | $495,000

2 Bed | 3 Bath | 2,270 Sqft | $1,890,000

ADOPTABLE HUMANE SOCIETY PETS

Passion Fruit | 4 years | Retriever, Mix

Paws | 7 years | Domestic Longhair

That's all for now! Have a great end of the year!

- Andrew

P. P. S. - U of M announced their 2025 football schedule last week

P. P. P. S. - Starting January 1, all eggs sold in Michigan must be cage-free

P. P. P. P. S. - Thanks to the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance for sponsoring this week’s Michigander.

Interested in advertising in the Michigander? Click here