Specialty wine shop, Subway under construction on Ann Arbor's North Maple Road
The redeveloped building at 1251 N. Maple in Ann Arbor has a new tenant: a specialty wine shop.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
Pram and Suzanne Acharya, owners of the 12-year-old Esperance wine shop and cafe in Charlevoix, signed a lease for the 1,100-square-foot space next to the under-construction Subway.
“Ann Arbor is, in our opinion, the most vibrant city in Michigan currently and has been for a long time,” Pram said.
“I think the clients in Ann Arbor have the discerning palate; they support nice places with great food quality.”
The husband and wife pair has been in the hospitality business for decades — they met while working at the Golden Mushroom restaurant in Southfield and also worked at Tapawingo in Charlevoix.
The owners of Esperance, pictured in Charlevoix, plan to open a specialty wine shop in Ann Arbor.
Photo from Esperance
The Ann Arbor wine shop, which will also be named Esperance, will focus on a wide-ranging wine selection and a small selection of food. An experienced sommelier, Pram said he will carry bottles of wine that range from $7.50 to a couple thousand dollars.
“I chase quality, I don’t chase price,” he said. “You only have one life, you really should drink quality wine at whatever price you can afford. I don’t mind if you come in and spend eight dollars, but we want to sell the best bottle of eight dollar wine you can afford.”
The food, he said, will be a carefully curated selection of upscale, interesting and quality products.
“It will be a lot of interesting food that you can quickly take home and make a meal with,” Pram said. “Because we’ve been in the food business so long, every product we will have we know intimately. We don’t put anything on the shelves unless we believe in it.”
The shop is one of two retail spaces in the 2,200-square-foot redevelopment. The building, which was completed in 2008, is registered to Lagos Investment Company, LLC.
Ann Arbor’s Colliers International marketed the retail spaces for an annual $27 per square foot, and Subway sandwich shop franchisee Mike Heffner signed a lease for one of the spaces in Aug. 2011. Issues with the cooler systems delayed construction on the restaurant for some time, said Jim Chaconas of Colliers.
“They should be moving along pretty quick,” he said. “The landlord had to get his work done and then (the restaurant) goes through and pounds it out.”
Heffner could not be reached for comment for an update, but permits pulled with the city of Ann Arbor indicate work at the space is making progress. He applied for restaurant build-out and reoccupation permits in June.
Pram said he and his wife have not determined a timeline for opening Esperance yet, but they plan to start construction on the space in coming weeks. They will take turns coming to Ann Arbor to run the store.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
jj45678
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 : 12:08 a.m.
Wow another subway chain! That's great! Whoever said Ann Arbor wasn't unique!
Claude Kershner
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 4:31 p.m.
When does the Speedway construction start?
badboybobbybrown
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 3:10 p.m.
Welocme to Ann Arbor! Wishing you the best of luck and will meet you soon.
StopCrying
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 3:02 p.m.
Any craft beer or only wine?
kilroy
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 2:46 p.m.
I love Esperance and told Pram about this space a year ago. His Charlevoix store is a 5 star operation. Ann Arbor could not do better. I don't like Subway next door. Pram could easily take the whole space if he added sit down dining like he has in Charlevoix.
mady
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 2:45 p.m.
I'll have a nice Red to accompany my cold-cut combo.....
mady
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 2:53 p.m.
Or a nice white to accompany my oven-roasted chicken.......
hmsp
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 1:25 p.m.
Re: "I don't mind if you come in and spend eight dollars, but we want to sell the best bottle of eight dollar wine you can afford." I don't have a lot of money, so I can't afford a good eight dollar bottle. I'll have to settle for a lousy one...
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 2 p.m.
I saw that, too. Sounds like something Yogi Berra would have said.
Ron Granger
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 1:15 p.m.
Will they have Ripple? I love Ripple! Too bad Sotini's, Izzy's, or one of the other great local sandwich shops, won't be filling that spot. Subway's corporate chain sandwich pricing these days is often more than small local mom and pop shops.
Ron Granger
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 8:57 p.m.
I dare someone to tell Fred G. Sanford that his diet preferences violate the comment policy.
Tesla
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 5:57 p.m.
It's actually Manischewitz and Ripple. He called it Manischipple.
mady
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 2:52 p.m.
Hey Ron, maybe they'll have Fred Sanford's favorite beverage, a combination of champagne and ripple. you know, "champipple". YAK!
Borisgoodenough
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 12:56 p.m.
Welcome to Ann Arbor, Pram! For those who aren't familiar with him, he has a strong reputation as one of the most knowledgeable wine merchants in the state. Will be strong addition to the already-competitive local wine market.
Thoughtful
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 12:32 p.m.
Subway has Michael Vick as a spokesperson. Need I say more? There's already a lot of congestion in that area, and that parking lot can't handle two businesses- it's too small. Plenty of high school students to ignore crossing signals, though.
jcj
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 4:52 p.m.
Lets boycott Obama because he went to Rev (I use the term loosely) Wrights church!
jns131
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 2:23 p.m.
Another reason to boycott Subway. Micheal Vick. One who will never learn how to hold a dog without sending it to the pit. Did you know he was allowed to get a dog for his daughter. For shame.
Purple
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 12:14 p.m.
Glad to see this space getting filled, perfect new additions. Welcome!
jns131
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 11:21 p.m.
I hate to say this but they jacked their prices up from $5 to almost $8 bucks for a footlong. I was told this by one Subway near our home that corporate came in and changed everything. I no longer frequent Subway since this mass price increase. Guess it is back to Wendys.
jcj
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 4:50 p.m.
fjord The $5 footlong is a permanent menu item for 6 different subs.
fjord
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 1:32 p.m.
The $5 footlong is a recurring promotion. It's never been the regular across-the-board price for their footlongs. I haven't noticed price increases, but they have introduced some more expensive items over the past few years.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 1:59 a.m.
The $8 ones are those with extra meat, such as the Big Philly Cheesesteak.
jcj
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 1:16 a.m.
I stopped by subway this evening and they STILL have $5 footlongs!
a2tom
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 11:19 p.m.
Nothing like a medium bodied red to wash down that cold cut combo!
mady
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 2:54 p.m.
a2tom, how about a nice riesling to accompany your black forest ham?
Mary Bilyeu
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 11:04 p.m.
A new wine and food store will be lovely - what fun!
heresmine
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 10:35 p.m.
I've looked and looked, but can't find the couple refered to in the caption to the picture.
justcurious
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 10:27 p.m.
Amazing to think of the revenue that has not been made on that corner for the last, what, eight years.
Billy
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 2:51 a.m.
Not just that but the taxes that have been paid on that property.
Billy
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 10:01 p.m.
Heh I just thought of something.... New Wine Specialty store......1/4 mile down the road from Alcoholics Anonymous....
jns131
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 11:22 p.m.
There is two elementary's and a middle school in that area too. Wow. How convenient.
clownfish
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.
Between AA and the high school.
Billy
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 9:58 p.m.
The property owners have been eating taxes on those empty buildings for over 5 years...it's about time they got something in there. I bet if the redevelopment of old marathon property kitty corner to this place has everything to do with why it's getting attention again. Well that and all the extra traffic being brought over there because of Skyline now.
linesandcircles
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 9:17 p.m.
Already very tough competition. Everyday Wines in Kerrytown is the best, and Plum does a decent job, too. Both are only a mile or two away.
bluetonguedlizard
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 12:24 p.m.
When are you stuck in the mud a2 folks going to get over the Big M change, it has been nothing but positive for that neighborhood.
Billy
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 9:59 p.m.
You left out Big M....I mean Fortnum's.
a2roots
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 8:58 p.m.
The Esperance in Charlevoix is terrific. I fully expect them to be successful here with their great service and knowledge. Those of you close by will be thrilled.
Unusual Suspect
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 8:56 p.m.
The headline "under construction" is wrong. Nothing is happening at that location as of this afternoon, just like nothing has happened there for eight years. Perhaps a better term would be, "planned."
Barb
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 8:34 p.m.
So, the Subway is still planned? There's been no action there since this was announced months (a year?) ago. I'll believe it when I actually some movement there.
fjord
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
+1. We've heard such promises before...
Unusual Suspect
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 8:57 p.m.
The Subway website still says, "Coming soon!" but I'm with you - I'll believe it when I see it.
Westfringe
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 8:17 p.m.
Woot! Looks like this intersection is going to get a lot better. Can't wait.
Vixen
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.
I live within walking distance and can't wait to frequent both. It sure is nice that there's finally tenants for that building.
bunnyabbot
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 8:01 p.m.
I'm extremely displeased by this news. Both are horrible additions to the neighborhood. As is the planned multi unit housing planned for the other corner. The only good news is there will be (at some point) a Speedway on the corner, if they would hurry up on it.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 1:56 a.m.
AnnArborism: an empty building employing nobody is better than a national chain restaurant.
Westfringe
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 1:05 a.m.
Why would you be "extremely displeased"? I mean subway sucks but this store looks nice.
brimble
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 9:29 p.m.
??? On the one hand, I could imagine that you'd rather see other particular businesses, but how are these horrible additions to the neighborhood? The housing development is a different question, of course, but I struggle to imagine what makes these two businesses undesirable in that space.
HeimerBoodle
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 8 p.m.
Welcome Esperance - I'll certainly be paying you a visit (and seeing how your selection and prices stack up against your neighbor to the East, Plum Market).
ContreMilice
Fri, Nov 2, 2012 : 3:50 p.m.
You mean _south._
Atticus F.
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 7:49 p.m.
This city needs more Subways.
John Gotts
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 8:37 p.m.
It would be nice to have more mom and pop sub chains, but Subway isn't such a bad fast food option.
MDavid
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
I work just down the road on Miller. I will be a repeat customer of both businesses.