12/19/2024
The Earthen Jar is coming to Ypsi in 2025! 🥳
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1013051747529819&set=a.482407323927600
Functionally obsolete property to become home of new restaurant in Ypsilanti
SSSethi Properties, LLC plans to rehabilitate a vacant and functionally obsolete storefront in the downtown corridor of the City of Ypsilanti to become the new home of a restaurant, The Earthen Jar. The project, located at 406 W. Michigan Avenue, will enhance the local community and support economic growth while reactivating a long-vacant storefront; the property has been vacant for over 30 years and was last used as a deli in the 1990s.
The project, which is anticipated to create a total capital investment of $403,512, is being supported by $200,000 in Build MI Community grant funds.
Located in a series of one-story commercial buildings on the main corridor in downtown Ypsilanti, the project is minutes from Eastern Michigan University and four blocks from City Hall. It is also adjacent to the new MI-HQ project, which will house the University of Michigan’s Ypsilanti Health Center and bring hundreds of new jobs to downtown Ypsilanti. The MI-HQ project received $1 million in Revitalization and Placemaking program funding in FY23.
Recently, the City of Ypsilanti applied for a Match on Main grant on behalf of the project and received a $25,000 award to support its development. The addition of a new restaurant is expected to spark additional investment in this long-dilapidated section of storefronts.
"Receiving the Build MI Community grant is an exciting opportunity to turn a vacant space into a vibrant destination for the Ypsilanti community,” said developer Sim Sethi. “This grant helps breathe new life into the building while supporting the growth and revitalization of the neighborhood. Earthen Jar will be a place where tradition, flavor, and community come together, offering a unique dining experience and contributing to the area's renewal."
"The addition of Earthen Jar to our downtown business community has been eagerly anticipated and is warmly welcomed,” said Elize Jekabson, executive director of the Ypsilanti DDA. “We are excited to collaborate with Sim and support his bold vision for transforming this long-vacant storefront in the heart of Ypsilanti. This revitalization will undoubtedly bring lasting benefits to our community for years to come.”
“This $200,000 grant from the Build MI Community fund will be put to good use to help revive life in downtown Ypsilanti,” said state Rep. Jimmie Wilson, Jr. (D-Ypsilanti). “The new restaurant will be a place for community making and a symbol of rebirth for the vacant lot. It signifies a new beginning for this section of the downtown corridor, and I look forward to seeing the project come to life.”
