Ellie's Chocolate Cafe in Chelsea returns to previous ownership
Ellie’s Chocolate Cafe in Chelsea has returned to its original owners, Tom and Tina Diab and its original name, the “Gourmet Chocolate Cafe
Judy Radant, who owned and ran the restaurant at 312 N. Main St. with sons Michael and Steve, said the business was forced to close due to “financial issues”.
The exterior of the Gourmet Chocolate Cafe.
AnnArbor.com file photo
Tom Diab said publicity about the case had affected Ellie's. “Instantly the business went down,” he said, but declined to comment further.
The Radants expanded their burger restaurant “Ellie’s Place” in January of 2012 to take over the next-door “Gourmet Chocolate Cafe” owned by the Diabs, renaming the restaurant “Ellie’s Chocolate Cafe.”
The restaurant is located in the Chelsea Clocktower Commons, managed by the McKinley property management firm. Jeff Holman, McKinley’s vice president of Property Management, said Ellie’s closed around June 15 and was reopened a few days later by the new owners.
He described the transfer as a “seamless transition.”
“It was just one group turning it back to the other group and reopening the business,” he said.
Holman said the community embraced the change and is happy to see the restaurant re-opened.
“It’s probably too early to tell, all indications are that things are going well for the new owners,” he said.
Judy Radant said she and her family have no future business plans.
Erica Hobbs is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. Contact the news desk at news@anarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
Calley
Mon, Jul 15, 2013 : 3:25 p.m.
A friend and I were excited to try this place yesterday. Completely oblivious to it's history, this story was a surprise to see today! Unfortunately, they were closed so we found out how amazing Poncho Villa is down the road. A suggestion to Ellie's: Open for Sunday lunch, since almost all the rest of Chelsea's reasonably priced and child-friendly places are not. Get that business and good luck!
zip the cat
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 1:51 p.m.
They ,the previous owners went out of business because A.A. Dot com chose to say where the guy who did the sexual assault worked. The business had nothing to do with the assault. Just because the guy worked for some relation the business gets outed by low life gutter reporting
WalkingJoe
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 8:53 p.m.
Sorry Zip, to me your argument is a little off. Many times a person arrested for a crime his/her employment is mentioned. Especially if it involves working with the public. i.e. a cop, priest, teacher etc. Running or working at a restaurant should be no different.
ChelseaBob
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 : 12:27 p.m.
The food was good before, it's better now and they are running regular specials. The business is likely to thrive as people realize what they offer.