Noodles & Co. to take place of closed Sze-Chuan West on Ann Arbor's west side
Previous coverage: Noodles & Co. wants to build restaurant at site of former Sze-Chuan West
The planned Noodles & Co. restaurant is officially on its way to Ann Arbor's west side following a 10-0 vote Monday night by the City Council.
The approved site plan calls for demolishing the former Sze-Chuan West restaurant — a 4,300-square-foot building at 2161 W. Stadium Blvd. — and constructing a 2,679-square-foot building with a reconfigured parking lot, outdoor patio and additional landscaping.
Sze-Chuan West closed last year.
The proposed site of Noodles & Co.
Courtesy of City of Ann Arbor
According to a planning staff report, the existing restaurant was constructed in 1962. A site plan for a 570-square-foot addition was approved in 1973 and constructed in 1974.
The proposed single-story building will rise 22 feet, which is less than half the four-story or 55-foot maximum allowed under the C3 zoning.
The existing site has 24 automobile parking spaces and no bicycle parking spaces. The site plan calls for 27 automobile parking spaces and four bicycle parking spaces.
Bicycle lanes were added to West Stadium in front of the site as part of improvements completed in the summer of 2006.
A 15-foot by 40-foot patio will be located along the front of the building. There also will be a 10-foot-wide landscaped area between the patio and the sidewalk along West Stadium.
Noodles & Co. already has locations on Washtenaw Avenue near US-23 and on South State Street in downtown Ann Arbor.
Council Member Marcia Higgins, D-4th Ward, was absent.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
J. Sorensen
Wed, Apr 4, 2012 : 8:03 a.m.
Why does the "highlighted" site include the Big M car wash? Are they going to tear that down too, or is that a mistake oin reporting? I suppose it would give A2 city council a reason to get rid of yet another cool retro neon sign. Seriously going to miss the old building. A better run restaurant could have had a lot of fun with that interior!
jgold47
Wed, Apr 4, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
Its in the body of the story. The entire parcel is currently the restaurant and the car wash, one of the things on the table is to bifurcate the property and split the two onto separate parcels.
sam time
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 11:30 p.m.
what's wrong with noodles?
bruceae
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 11:08 p.m.
Someone wants to take down an old building, build something that will create construction jobs and jobs for employees and all you people want to do is run them down? Plus this isn't another U of M Palace, these people will actually pay taxes too. Plus their food is good.
zags
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 10:15 p.m.
Next door at Bell's Diner has the best bi bim bop on the west side.
Machine
Wed, Apr 4, 2012 : 1:43 a.m.
Amen. Also, Izzy's across the street makes great sandwiches. There are still a few good independent joints on W. Stadium.
Linda Peck
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 9:32 p.m.
I love the West Side and Stadium Blvd for the good parts, like Stadium Hardware, Arbor Farms, Ace Hardware, Bank of Ann Arbor, and Westgate with TJMaxx and Nicola's and Star's Cafe. We got a lot going on over here. A few noodles will not be ruining our day. I know I am leaving out lots of great spots that I have not discovered yet.
Joe
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 9:31 p.m.
Chain restaurant or abandoned building with guard fences? Tough decision... stop being elitist and be happy jobs are being created
jen777
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 9:29 p.m.
What a joke this city has become - very overrated restaurants with average food or chains. Noodles and Co. is great for students on cheap budgets but I wont' spend my money there. there are a few good restaurants but at higher end of price range. What happened to going out for decent food and enjoyable night out? Between tshirt stores and chain restaurants, and above mentioned so so restaurants, I am not sure what the appeal for folks to really spend their dollars here.
jcj
Wed, Apr 4, 2012 : 12:24 a.m.
Show us YOUR Green!
wolfman jack
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 8:44 p.m.
I want four meatballs.
zags
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 6:10 p.m.
Where can I get a $30 Sze-Chuan West retro t-shirt?
bluenella
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 5:52 p.m.
Too bad they'll bulldoze that unusual building, I remember when it was the Waterfall restaurant...had a beautiful neon sign. I'd much rather see an independent business on the site too, but Stadium has long been dominated by suburban chain stores. The only chain store I miss on that stretch was the A&W, a throwback to a different era...so sad when it closed.
Angry Moderate
Wed, Apr 4, 2012 : 12:49 a.m.
So, how many unique local businesses have you opened?
Basic Bob
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
"Suburban chain stores"... right here in Edge City!
Hmm
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 5 p.m.
I will not be eating at Noodles and Co sorry
itsworthwhatyoupaidforit
Wed, Apr 4, 2012 : 12:07 p.m.
@Hmm...where will you be eating? Catbehindthecouch and I will wave as we enjoy our very tasty and fresh noodles dishes. This place will be a welcome addition to our neighborhood -- so glad it's coming!!
SMC
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 9:19 p.m.
In a related story... No one cared.
Hmm
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 7:31 p.m.
Same to you!
catbehindthecouch
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 6:09 p.m.
I will. Thanks for sharing.
ex734
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 4:35 p.m.
Sad to see sze chuan go. as a child, I always thought of it as the fred flintstone cave.
Maxwell
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.
Actually - I miss Sze-Chuan West - I liked the funky cave and if they had kept their quality up they still would be one of the best Asian food haunts in AA.
Maxwell
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 9:03 p.m.
@ jgold47 - thanks for the info - I've got business that way next week and will check them out!
Basic Bob
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 8:35 p.m.
I just ate at Sze Chuan for the first time recently, possibly the best Chinese food I have ever eaten!
jgold47
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 7:18 p.m.
I find it very critical to point out that the original owners (or at least the owners through my lifetime) sold this location a few years before it went downhill. Different owners, differnet quality and menu. The original owners still have a Sze Chuan in Canton on Ford Rd (the original I surmise, as this was Sze Chuan West), with the same menu and the same amazing food. Made my day when I found out they were the same people.
Andrea Zastrow
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.
We always referred to it as "The Great Cave of China"
Chester Copperpot
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.
Wow, wonderful.... Another disgusting chain on stadium..
jcj
Wed, Apr 4, 2012 : 12:22 a.m.
What about the good ole days? McDonalds across from Big Georges, Fowlers N.E. corner of Stadium and Liberty, Stadium Tavern N.W. corner of Stadium and Liberty. Everetts where Taco Bell is, A&W across from where subway is? Noodles & Co. is better than whats there now! If you are not happy there is a simple solution. Invest YOUR OWN money! And stop complaining!
Hmm
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 5:02 p.m.
"a2miguy It's not like that part of Stadium was ever going to be beautiful. Might as well make it chain city." Wish it was a Wendy's instead of Noodles and Co.
SMC
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 2:52 p.m.
Yes, I can see how disappointing that must be, since West Stadium has traditionally been an area of unique and independent local businesses, like McDonald's, Taco Bell, Burger King, KFC, Sunoco, Goodyear Tires, etc. I'm still mourning the loss of La Pinata.
a2miguy
Tue, Apr 3, 2012 : 2:07 p.m.
It's not like that part of Stadium was ever going to be beautiful. Might as well make it chain city.