Village Corner owner Dick Scheer signs deal to move wine store to The Courtyards near North Campus
Many in Ann Arbor have been waiting for word on where Village Corner will re-open after it closed last fall to make room for the 601 Forest development.
I've been keeping in touch with owner Dick Scheer, who's been hesitant to provide information on his next step - even this week, he emailed me: "We're making some progress, but everything's still tentative, so it would be presumptuous and disruptive for me to go into any further details at this juncture."
But Joel Goldberg, a monthly columnist for the Ann Arbor Chronicle, found a clue on a state Web site - and got Scheer to confirm a lease in The Courtyard Shops on Plymouth Road, though a liquor license transfer (and expansion to new products) remains pending.
Take a look at Goldberg's column here.
Comments
seldon
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 5:53 p.m.
You can argue about whether this is important enough to be newsworthy or not (I lean toward yes but can see both sides). However, it's ridiculous to suggest that this article is in some way invading Dick Scheer's privacy. The application is a matter of public record, and it's a business.
DonBee
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 2:17 p.m.
No parking meters!
Mike D.
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 2:12 p.m.
In response to some commenters who complained about this being reported, since when is business news subject to the authorization of the business? If you only want to read press releases, go to PR Newswire. As for VC reopening, I hope the licensing works out. While I live much closer to Morgan and York, which also specializes in French wine, it's always nice to have more choices.
MB111
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 2:57 a.m.
@james lucas Perhaps they moved due to lack of parking downtown Maybe this should be a message to council that businesses actually want parking .
clownfish
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 3:42 p.m.
They moved because another business wanted the site. Not government intrusion, not taxes, not parking. This is where we are in this country...one business buys another, but the popular response is that SOMEHOW it MUST be governments fault. How sad.
LAEL
Sat, Apr 2, 2011 : 9:16 p.m.
@jameslucas VC has never been "just another liquor store". It has one of if not THE best wine selection in this area, and dare I say, even region. I'm sad that VC had to move. It was such a part my campus experience. I shopped there a lot as a student when I could walk there, but that dropped off afterward because it's so hard to park in that part of town. I am looking forward to shopping more often at their new location since there will now be parking.
Jatra
Sat, Apr 2, 2011 : 7:39 p.m.
May I be the first to welcome VC to the north side!
Val
Sat, Apr 2, 2011 : 7:04 p.m.
It is sad to see another retail business leave one of the downtown locations where it had been for decades. Many returning former students and sports fans etc will miss it. Probably they will think that it went under due to the economy. I guess the remaining stores will get busier as the customer base moves to their locations. I wonder how many will follow the store out to Plymouth Rd? The previous comment is right on.
jameslucas
Sat, Apr 2, 2011 : 5:49 p.m.
The reason the Village Corner store was great was due to its location. Now that it is moving to this location, it will soon become just another strip mall liquor store.
Paula Gardner
Sat, Apr 2, 2011 : 4:20 p.m.
If there's a decision by a public body involving a business - such as a request, in this case, to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission - its moves from private to public. Not every business warrants coverage in every instance of a public request, but given the previous attention (and reader response) to Village Corner, I believe it was worth it in this case. We face similar questions when businesses seek tax abatements from municipalities.
jcj
Sun, Apr 3, 2011 : 12:07 p.m.
@godsbreath64 Why so high and mighty?
godsbreath64
Sat, Apr 2, 2011 : 5:33 p.m.
Paula, this rivalry with the respectability of objective, or even ethicall journalism has got to stop. Go and hire some professional journalists, if you must. This is not exactly a new or isolated request.
xmo
Sat, Apr 2, 2011 : 4:19 p.m.
This is what a long time local business people thinks about Ann Arbor. Maybe we need some PRO-BUSINESS members on City Council! "We don't want to be another Costco or Walmart," he said, a reference to the lengthy and highly-publicized travails of both national retailers to obtain the necessary government approvals for local stores." (from Joel Goldberg's column in the Ann Arbor Chronicle)
Jackson
Sat, Apr 2, 2011 : 4 p.m.
Curious why you would think it's appropriate or even "newsworthy" to disclose plans for a business to relocate especially when the business owner had already issued a statement to your response that he wasn't prepared to announce any new plans? Scandal rags make their living off disclosing information of celebrities and other public figures that they would otherwise wish to keep private; the thing is, Dick Scheer and the Village Corner aren't "celebrities - meaning they don't earn their living off of public opinion therefore, to some degree, waiving their right to some level of privacy" and AnnArbor.com isn't a scandal rag covering the exploits of the rich and famous; so I ask you? Why would you print an article or even spend time writing about a business owner's plans when he expclitly told you he wasn't inclined to comment? Great job getting the big scoop!