New Businesses Bring Something Different to Downtown Plymouth

The downtown Plymouth business community will gain a few new neighbors this year, all promising to something unique to the district.

, a self-serve yogurt shop, will open on Main Street south of Ann Arbor Trail — ideally, in the first week in May, owners say.

Westland natives Craig Turk and Chris Tomei are the faces behind the new enterprise, which will offer a rotation of more than 50 yogurt flavors, up to 14 at a time, and more than 40 toppings, including fresh fruit, nuts, granola, candy bar pieces and cheesecake bits.

"We noticed these self-serve yogurt places are really taking off in other parts of the country," Tomei said. "So we thought the concept would do well here, where there really isn't anything like this."

Price is based on weight at 49 cents per ounce. According to Tomei, all the yogurt will be no-fat or low-fat, and there will be at least two sugar-free options at all times.

Turk said they couldn't have asked for a better location.

"With all the events and other things happening down here, I'm sure we'll get plenty of foot traffic," Turc said.

Turk said the space will also offer seating, free Wi-Fi and TVs to make it appeal to people as a "hangout" rather than just an in-and-out yogurt place.

New restaurant hopes to give Plymouth some 'edge'

Another business set to open in an existing downtown building is Panache 447, a restaurant that will occupy the space formerly known as 1999 Tavern on Forest Street.

"The design and concept is going to be very edgy and stylish," said Robert Kolo, an adviser on the project. "It's going be different from anything Plymouth has already — it's not a sports bar, it's not going to be white-tablecloth formal."

Kolo said the menu is going to focus on local food, seafood and sushi. He plans on opening "sometime midsummer."

"It's not going to be a seafood restaurant," Kolo said. "But no one else in town is really doing seafood right now. The food is going to be phenomenal."

The formerly unused upstairs part of the building will be turned into a bar and lounge area, and Kolo said he hopes Panache 447 will become "the place to be" in Plymouth.

"We want to draw not only local people, but also people from neighboring 'foodie' communities like Birmingham and Royal Oak," Kolo said. "We chose Plymouth because it's really the dominant downtown in the area, and we hope this restaurant will really stand out."

Familiar face to open new restaurant

Frank Yaquinto, owner of and on Main Street, is going to expand his offerings in late 2011 or early 2012 by turning the recently vacated UBS building into a third restaurant.

According to Plymouth's Downtown Development Authority, the restaurant will be called the Sardine Room will have small plates and a raw bar, including shrimp, oysters and crab claws on ice.

The concept will include an open kitchen, where customers can get a sneak peek at the culinary action. Capacity will be about 70 patrons.