Thai, sushi restaurant and dental office moving into former Stoney Creek Coney Island restaurant
Ypsilanti Township's Stoney Creek Coney Island has closed, but two new businesses are ready to occupy the Whittaker Road restaurant's former space.
The 2,000-square-foot unit will be split and occupied on one side by a Thai and sushi restaurant, while the neighboring Whittaker Road Dental office will expand to occupy the other half.
Ypsilanti Township staff recently issued a building permit to Whittaker Road Dental for a construction project estimated at $220,000, though the company is still seeking bids.
Kris Keller is the practice administrator for Effingham, IL-based Heartland Dental Care, the company that owns Whittaker Road Dental. She said Heartland owns more than 300 dentist’s offices and the number continues growing nearly daily.
Whittaker Road Dental will expand into part of the former Stoney Creek Coney Island.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
Heartland's and Whittaker Road Dental’s success can be attributed to several factors, Keller said. She called the office a “one-stop shop” for general dentistry, cosmetic procedures and specialty services. They also provide different types of sedation, which attracts people with anxiety over dental procedures.
“We have been able to add personnel who are extensively trained in those areas,” Keller said.
Among other services are laser whitening, wisdom tooth extraction, Invisalign “clear braces,” traditional cleaning, oral cancer screenings and dental implants.
Whittaker Road Dental, which has been open since 2004, also offers three types of sedation, including traditional nitrous gas, oral pills or intravenously. The last option is reserved for those with severe anxiety, and it induces a light sleep so patients aren’t aware of their procedure or remember it when it's complete.
The wide range of services Whittaker Road Dental offers has meant a jump in demand, Keller said. While the office currently serves more than 500 customers monthly, she expects that number to at least double with the completion of the new addition targeted for March.
“We’ve been successful because we have doctors who believe in taking care of the patient today and getting them in and out without any pain,” she said. “They’re a very caring group and give patients the best lifetime care.”
Comments
Monica R-W
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 11:45 p.m.
"They also provide different types of sedation, which attracts people with anxiety over dental procedures." Thanks Tom for this info...as a person with Dental anxiety, might have to check them out!
jns131
Tue, Dec 20, 2011 : 3:03 a.m.
Thanks for the bit of trivia. Although sedation gives me an anxiety as well. I have heard that sometimes you don't come out of sedation either. Just a thought.
Bogie
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 9:36 p.m.
Ya for my dentist!!!!
Joe_Citizen
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 5:40 p.m.
Fish is now so high in mercury counts that most of it is no longer healthy. Be careful of your fish intake, and seaweed for that matter. The government of Japan just abolished whale and some other kinds of seafood from being served in restaurants there. You can get your Omega 3 vitamin oil from the store. I do so love fish but it no longer loves me.
Joe_Citizen
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 5:16 p.m.
I'm surprised That the dental office did not want the rest of the space for a candy shop. LOL
jns131
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 4:13 p.m.
There are Asians in the area and with a good Thai restaurant in the area I really hope it does well. I love Thai and sushi. So, yes, if they make a good red and green curry? I will be so there. Thanks for the heads up. Now to pin that location down.
Ross
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 3:59 p.m.
Awesome. Moving to depot town this week and was quite sad to lose all the food offerings of Ann Arbor. I will support a good thai/sushi place here, for sure. Why all the free advertising for a dental office though? Who cares....
Tom Smith
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 3:34 p.m.
... Thai and sushi? Well, fine. As long as the Thai's good. And Whittaker Road Dental is an excellent office, but it is a touch cramped, so the expansion will be great.
deetdeedee
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 2:40 p.m.
Sushi's actually not too bad after you deep fry it with a little tarter sauce =-}'
lindsay erin
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 1:55 p.m.
What great news. It'll be great to have options besides bar food or Chinese takeout within a few miles from my house.
lindsay erin
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 5:31 p.m.
I'm aware that in the general sense (aside from Joe_Citizen's note about mercury in fish) sushi & Thai are technically more healthy than Chinese, which is why I'm excited to have this option offered up the street from my home. (I also can't eat Chinese at all due to a food allergy so that's why I said this is 'great news'...)
Joe_Citizen
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 5:27 p.m.
Fish is now so high in mercury counts that most of it is no longer healthy. Be careful of your fish intake, and seaweed for that matter. The government of Japan just abolished whale and some other kinds of seafood from being served in restaurants there. You can get your Omega 3 vitamin oil from the store.
jns131
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 4:15 p.m.
Actually Thai and Sushi are more healthy then Chinese cuisine. You need your daily fish intake and with the Thai? The curries are suppose to be great for digestion and long health.
glimmertwin
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.
Best of luck, but I doubt the demographic will support Sushi / Thai. I love both, but it is very difficult figuring out just what this area will support as far as dine-in restaurants go.
jns131
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 4:16 p.m.
Not sure about Thai Thai, but Tuptim has been there for over 10 years. I remember it first opening and we went before children every weekend. Now we are lucky if we make it once a year.
brad
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 2:47 p.m.
Both Tuptim and Thai-Thai on Washtenaw seem to do decent business. Having a Thai option closer to home will be nice, as both of the above are on the west side of Ypsi and I'm on the east side.
u812
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 1:12 p.m.
I thought the service was slow,the prices high,food bland.
brad
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 11:57 a.m.
Ypsi has been lacking a decent sushi place since Kaya switched menus then went under, so here's hoping this new restaurant does it well!
dading dont delete me bro
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 11:32 a.m.
sushi? great, i've been looking for a local bait shop.
Pixie Belle
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 11:12 a.m.
I know that the area has an abundance of Coney Islands but this place was special to me. It was well decorated, comfortable, had really friendly service staff and above average food. I can only think that the location and huge amount of floor space is what caused them to go out of business. Very sad to have them go.