Au Bon Pain Closing? Say It Ain't So!

**carlscomputers** · February-04-10, 01:00 AM

Does anyone have any information?

Chuck_MI · February-04-10, 03:56 AM

Bad name for an establishment in Detroit.
Detroit doesn't need weird French-hybrid-sounding names for new establishments.
All that does is drive away the locals.
Not a good business plan.
Still, sorry to see them go.

**detroitbob** · February-04-10, 04:49 AM

Why is "Au Bon Pain" a bad name for a business in the City of Detroit? By my count they operate in 21 states, both urban and suburban locations...and the comment about 'drive away the locals' is beyone belief...talk about an baseless bullshit. I cannot believe the prior post. Now if the hours are inconsistant, the prices out of league with other food service ventures the area, and the food and beverage substandard, fine...it should close. However, I, for one, have never heard a complaint about the place. Mark my words, however, there is the distinct probability that a significant number of food service locations in the greater downtown area including casino dining rooms and hotel dining rooms, self operated or leased may very will close in the next 90 days due to the economic factors of the overall lack of business in the downtown area...NOT TO MENTION suburban restaurants that are on the brink...but the fact that a French name has driven away local business is, well, again baseless bullshit.

**Ezri** · February-04-10, 05:02 AM

Chuck may think that peope is leaving Detoit because "Detroit" [[the name of the city) is a French word.....

**stasu1213** · February-04-10, 06:36 AM

I had thought that they were making good business. It was nice while it lasted. The city should look out for the smaller businesses instead of kissing the butt of the bigger corporations who's plans are to leave detroit anyway. Can anyone say GM

**wazootyman** · February-04-10, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by detroitbob

Mark my words, however, there is the distinct probability that a significant number of food service locations in the greater downtown area including casino dining rooms and hotel dining rooms, self operated or leased may very will close in the next 90 days due to the economic factors of the overall lack of business in the downtown area...NOT TO MENTION suburban restaurants that are on the brink...

Unless you've got some facts to back up these assertions [[besides "oh, the economy is bad") please don't spread FUD.

**English** · February-04-10, 07:19 AM

They closed too early, in my opinion -- why not remain open during ice skating hours? I was hoping to go there a couple of weekends ago and instead only had that little tent kiosk as an option for hot drinks.

**Mikeg** · February-04-10, 07:37 AM

......the bigger corporations who's plans are to leave detroit anyway. Can anyone say GM

"I received a call last night from President Obama informing me of his support for GM to stay in the city of Detroit with its headquarters at the Renaissance Center." - Mayor Dave Bing, June 1, 2009

Relax, GM isn't leaving Detroit. The President told us in nearly every one of his campaign speeches that he is the kind of candidate who is going to tell voters what they should hear, not what they want to hear.

"What we are not doing -- what I have no interest in doing -- is running GM." - President Barack Obama, June 1, 2009

Can anyone say "cognitive dissonance"?

**Khartoum** · February-04-10, 08:07 AM

I never went there because of the strange name; but while walking around Pittsburgh in the early morning hours, I had no other choice and had to give their Au Bon Pain a chance.

It ended up being alright

**kryptonite** · February-04-10, 08:39 AM

My only experience at the place was terrible. During Winterblast 2008 a friend of mine went in there to get a coffee which took about 45 minutes, the employees were entirely incompetent, slow, and unconcerned. I gave up and went outside and listened to a band and waited. I should have gone to Foran's. Hell, in 45 minutes a person could get an entire meal at most places and even a beer or two.

jflick3535 · February-04-10, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by kryptonite

My only experience at the place was terrible. During Winterblast 2008 a friend of mine went in there to get a coffee which took about 45 minutes, the employees were entirely incompetent, slow, and unconcerned. I gave up and went outside and listened to a band and waited. I should have gone to Foran's. Hell, in 45 minutes a person could get an entire meal at most places and even a beer or two.

ahh the old "the business was shitty that's why it closed" excuse compared with the reality of Detroit being a ghost town for the majority of the day which makes it impossible to run a successful food/restaurant operation.

broken record

**bailey** · February-04-10, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by kryptonite

My only experience at the place was terrible. During Winterblast 2008 a friend of mine went in there to get a coffee which took about 45 minutes, the employees were entirely incompetent, slow, and unconcerned. I gave up and went outside and listened to a band and waited. I should have gone to Foran's. Hell, in 45 minutes a person could get an entire meal at most places and even a beer or two.

I'm going to echo that. I gave that place more chances that I would normally give a place with shoddy service, was dirty, had completely uninterested staff, and barely passable food. I just liked being able to grab a quick coffee and bagel when I had an opportunity to sit outside on a nice day for a little while and enjoy the park. Hopefully it wont sit empty too long.

**texorama** · February-04-10, 09:11 AM

I have gone in there often because I like to sit and work while looking out at the rink/park. It was doing OK for awhile, but it was very poorly managed. Coffee would have been sitting around for hours, and they kept offering less and less. No cappuccino, etc., for instance, which is a natural in that location, and it just got to feeling sketchy. A competent operator could definitely make that space work. Cafe De Troit, are you reading this?

**Fury13** · February-04-10, 09:11 AM

Let's hope we don't end up with a McDonald's or a Dunkin' Donuts in that building. Au Bon Pain will look good in hindsight if something like that happens.

**bailey** · February-04-10, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by texorama

I have gone in there often because I like to sit and work while looking out at the rink/park. It was doing OK for awhile, but it was very poorly managed. Coffee would have been sitting around for hours, and they kept offering less and less. No cappuccino, etc., for instance, which is a natural in that location, and it just got to feeling sketchy. A competent operator could definitely make that space work. Cafe De Troit, are you reading this?

pretty sure she was banned.

**sirrealone** · February-04-10, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by Fury13

Let's hope we don't end up with a McDonald's or a Dunkin' Donuts in that building. Au Bon Pain will look good in hindsight if something like that happens.

Yeah, just leave it empty for a few years instead. That'll show 'em!

bartock · February-04-10, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by jflick3535

ahh the old "the business was shitty that's why it closed" excuse compared with the reality of Detroit being a ghost town for the majority of the day which makes it impossible to run a successful food/restaurant operation.

broken record

There are dozens of places that have somehow "managed" to stay in business downtown, so impossible may be a bit strong a word to use. Besides, look at the location of the restaurant. I think there is an Au Bon Pain in the RenCen also, and it is doing fine [[and I would bet there are more workers in the immediate vicinity of C-Mart than in the RenCen).

As much as some may not like the "corporate" idea, I would think that that location would be perfect for a McDonald's. Quick, cheap food, hot chocolate and coffee. Because it is so central and in the middle of a traffic circle, I wouldn't think loitering, etc., would be a problem. Then again, I've never tried to open a business in downtown Detroit.

**Fury13** · February-04-10, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by bartock

As much as some may not like the "corporate" idea, I would think that that location would be perfect for a McDonald's. Quick, cheap food, hot chocolate and coffee.

Of course it would be a perfect location for McDonald's. Bland, unhealthy food and bad coffee... sure. Let's hope for the lowest common denominator. That's what always seems to happen in Detroit, anyway.

**kryptonite** · February-04-10, 09:24 AM

Since I don't work downtown, does anyone know if the coffee shop in the Guardian Bldg is still open? I will be at the Winterblast next Saturday and am meeting friends and would love for them to see the Guardian Bldg.

**Fury13** · February-04-10, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by sirrealone

Yeah, just leave it empty for a few years instead. That'll show 'em!

No, I think a well-managed, independent coffee and snack place, serving high-quality food with great customer service, would be the ticket, actually.

bartock · February-04-10, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Fury13

Of course it would be a perfect location for McDonald's. Bland, unhealthy food and bad coffee... sure. Let's hope for the lowest common denominator. That's what always seems to happen in Detroit, anyway.

Yeah, other big cities don't have McDonald's in their downtowns. Perhaps a sushi bar, then?

**texorama** · February-04-10, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by kryptonite

Since I don't work downtown, does anyone know if the coffee shop in the Guardian Bldg is still open? I will be at the Winterblast next Saturday and am meeting friends and would love for them to see the Guardian Bldg.

Yep, there was just a photo in a story about the new county offices in the Detroit News yesterday. Not on the site anymore [[or I'm misremembering the location). But I've been there within the last few weeks, and it's doing great.

**Fury13** · February-04-10, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by bartock

Yeah, other big cities don't have McDonald's in their downtowns. Perhaps a sushi bar, then?

Now you're just being a smart ass. We have a downtown McDonald's. It's in the Ren Cen. There's one on Mack and I-75 and one on Woodward near WSU too, among others.

And no, not a sushi bar. I made my suggestion in an earlier post.