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

**Caseyc** · February-04-10, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by pffft

Winterfest? Campus Martius has entertainment all spring/summer...apart from the Ford First Fridays, which bring in some great entertainers, there's local acts on many other days as well. I attended several radio-promoted shows as well.

During Jazz Fest, Campus Martius is its own stage...a wonderful vantage point to see several stages, actually.

Oh, ok. I actually am aware of the other programming, but would suggest that they need to do more. Just based on what I have seen. Apparently, you disagree? Did you look at the two websites? Explore each of them for a while, just for comparison's sake, and tell me that Detroit 300 is doing all they can to make the C-Mart, and its surrounding businesses [[very important) a success. Again, my problem is people are so excited to see things that are pretty much run-of-the-mill mundane in other cities [[a thriving Jimmy Johns at lunch! An operating chain drug store in the CBD!!), that they fail to see the lack of a forest thru the one or two still-standing trees. Demand better.

**pffft** · February-04-10, 03:27 PM

What this definitely proves is that Cincinnati has a better website for its downtown park...

If you rely on the Detroit 300 website for information on what's happening in Campus Martius most of the year, you're not going to know much.

**Caseyc** · February-04-10, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by pffft

What this definitely proves is that Cincinnati has a better website for its downtown park...

If you rely on the Detroit 300 website for information on what's happening in Campus Martius most of the year, you're not going to know much.

I think that settles it. I'm done here.

**East Detroit** · February-04-10, 03:48 PM

Make it a McDonalds and add cheaper prices for tainted beef from China and H1B visa relatives as cheap employees.... people will flock there.

**bailey** · February-04-10, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by pffft

What this definitely proves is that Cincinnati has a better website for its downtown park...

If you rely on the Detroit 300 website for information on what's happening in Campus Martius most of the year, you're not going to know much.

Seriously? facepalm post of the day.

**Caseyc** · February-04-10, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by French777

the Au Bon Pain food was good I thought....

well, your're a Frenchman! I myself found it to be most sagacious.

**Det_ard** · February-04-10, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by pffft

What this definitely proves is that Cincinnati has a better website for its downtown park...

If you rely on the Detroit 300 website for information on what's happening in Campus Martius most of the year, you're not going to know much.

Everything's fine, y'all just go on back to sleep, right? I'm thunderstruck at the tone of acceptance of the status quo.

**JStone** · February-04-10, 04:33 PM

ABP is closing? Does Jerry VanAcker still own it?

If so, I am surprised that is is closing. With a guy with such high integrity and honesty running the place, I would think they would be expanding. Speaking of high integrity and honesty, what ever happened to Jerry's friend Jim Wickenheiser?

**carlscomputers** · February-04-10, 05:00 PM

Wow, all I did was ask a simple question... But, I did get my answer... Whatever the reason, taxes, bad service, poor food, not open long enough, too expensive, etc., They were a part of the Park & it's sad to see them gone...

**Bcscott** · February-04-10, 05:13 PM

Damn, I really enjoyed getting a sandwich at Eph's then walking over to Au Bon Pain and grabbing a cookie then have a nice lunch in Campus Martius. My lunch options are really dwindling.

**gnome** · February-04-10, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Caseyc

I think that settles it. I'm done here.

I guess some folks can't see you are trying to show some place that is succeeding vs CP.

Your point on amping the activity vibe is a very low cost, ease of entry suggestion. I wonder if they have a dedicated activity coordinator and if they do, if they require each event to be self funding. The cost of ice skates is a case in point. Sounds like they feel they need the $7.50 to break even without realizing they are leaving money on the table. I wonder how many folks wouldn't mind taking a 15 minute spin on the skates just for the heck of it, ... $2.50 sounds about right, but $7.50 almost requires one to think twice about the whole thing.

If you're down there with your sweetie dropping a finn for a few minutes on the ice sounds fun. $15 sounds like a commitment.

**Det_ard** · February-04-10, 05:47 PM

By my calculation I'm at close to $50 to get the family out on the ice, even if we bring our own skates. Pass.

**pffft** · February-04-10, 06:58 PM

Cincinnati clearly has more going on in its downtown park/square than we do in Campus Martius...but my point was, you can't critique CM from afar based upon a lame website that apparently isn't updated. Maybe it's because several different organizations put on events there, but for whatever reason...there's no central website that's adequate.

I confess I'm not interested enough in Cinci, and too busy, to delve into any website about it...so I wouldn't presume to make a comparison between the two cities...

Toolbox · February-04-10, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by JStone

ABP is closing? Does Jerry VanAcker still own it?

If so, I am surprised that is is closing. With a guy with such high integrity and honesty running the place, I would think they would be expanding. Speaking of high integrity and honesty, what ever happened to Jerry's friend Jim Wickenheiser?

After all his highly successful Detroit real estate endevors I hear they will not let him into the country.

Toolbox · February-04-10, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by pffft

What this definitely proves is that Cincinnati has a better website for its downtown park...

If you rely on the Detroit 300 website for information on what's happening in Campus Martius most of the year, you're not going to know much.

We should rely on the D300 site for all the programing info. If not someone else should run the place.

**buildingsofdetroit** · February-04-10, 08:58 PM

Freep story:
http://freep.com/article/20100204/BU...s-Martius-Park

Chuck_MI · February-04-10, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by detroitbob

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.

The suburban professionals who clog the freeways into downtown every weekday morning are but one component of a successfully diversified restaurant's customer base. An equally important clientele are the masses of low-wage and minimum-wage service workers downtown. These people eat too, ya know. A name consisting of a series of nasal French syllables doesn't fly so well with the Detroit proletariat. This is a blue-collar city of long vowels and hard consonants.
I'm sorry that my musings upset you. [Edit: I retract that apology.]

**EastsideAl** · February-05-10, 12:42 AM

Originally Posted by Chuck_MI

The suburban professionals who clog the freeways into downtown every weekday morning are but one component of a successfully diversified restaurant's customer base. An equally important clientele are the masses of low-wage and minimum-wage service workers downtown. These people eat too, ya know. A name consisting of a series of nasal French syllables doesn't fly so well with the Detroit proletariat. This is a blue-collar city of long vowels and hard consonants.
I'm sorry that my musings upset you.

Ummm... you do realize that Detroit is a French word, right?

**deweygal** · February-05-10, 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by gnome

Attachment 5124

When a door closes, open a window.

OMG I love that place! it is so good! yes good girl go to paris crepes you are more than welcome to come to campus martius.

Chuck_MI · February-05-10, 02:22 AM

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

Ummm... you do realize that Detroit is a French word, right?

I am very well aware of the history and traditions of this unique city. I am talking about NOW, where French-speaking people really have no standing in this city, and the language is more or less English. Also, it's blue-collar English, and not some sell-out gentrification version of it. Maybe you want to ennoble the masses. Sorry, but you don't speak the language.
What's more, you don't understand the disconnect from the haves and the have-nots. Cliff Note for you: The have-nots do not eat at a restaurant that serves measly portions for a high price with bad service to boot . And also a dumb trite name.

**Hermod** · February-05-10, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

Ummm... you do realize that Detroit is a French word, right?

So is "Lee fer nwa" [[livernois)

**epiphany** · February-05-10, 08:24 AM

What people are saying about the bad service at au bon pain is true. I worked there for a very short period of time [[about 3 months) and couldn't take any more after that because the management let certain people get away with doing pretty much nothing all day long and the managers themselves didn't do much work either. I constantly had to listen to customers complain about how long it was taking to get their food and drink and there was no logical reason for the delay. On top of that, the manager was very rude to me and constantly was making me take other peoples work load so that him and his friends could relax and joke around and then he would come to me and make rude comments and complain about the coffee not being changed after I had just made new coffee, etc because he wasn't paying attention. I don't want to sound ridiculous, but I really think that I was treated like crap because I was white. None of the other employees seemed to get walked all over like I did and I finally got sick of it and left and never looked back. They never paid me my last check.

**DetroitPlanner** · February-05-10, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by OriginalG313

Au Bon Pain opened in Campus Martius in 2004 and was the French-inspired chainâ€™s first Michigan location.

Actually there was an Au Bon Pain in Fairlane Twn Center in the 1970's.

- Signed an old geezer.

**kryptonite** · February-05-10, 10:56 AM

I worked downtown in the 1980's and there was an ABP on Mich. Ave just east of the old Book Cadillac during part of the time I was there, a friend of mine from MI Bell [[at the time) liked to go there for lunch once in a while.