Downtown

Launching and running Go! Ice Cream in Ypsilanti’s Downtown Business District has been critical in the success of our enterprise. The excitement, momentum and connection here is palpable, and my business wouldn’t be what it is today if we had opened in a different area.

Rob Hess, Go! Ice Cream

Morning in historic downtown Ypsilanti finds the sun is rising over brick buildings and storefronts along Michigan Avenue, while many local residents take their dogs for the first walk of the day. Joggers from the Ypsilanti Running Company wave to each other, while Encuentro, Bobcat Bonnies and other restaurants fire up coffee and breakfast. Apartments, lofts, and historic homes line the streets and knit together the fabric of the neighborhood. Downtown Ypsilanti is known for community fixtures such as Puffer Reds and the Tap Room, while also welcoming recent new businesses such as The Ypsi Cocktail Club, C. King & Co. Cafe, and Bridge Community Cafe. The Downtown TIF Plan can be found here

Fun Facts: The city’s original movie theater was located adjacent to Corner Health in what is now the North Huron St Parking Lot. Most of the downtown parking lots were created after fires in the district.