ANN ARBOR – Downtown Tree Town has lost another longtime resident.
bd’s Mongolian Grill, on the corner of Main and Washington, closed its doors in May after 28 years of serving the downtown area.
The eatery served Asian-inspired dishes, cocktails, beer, create-your-own stir fry and desserts. It opened in 1994, two years after the brand was founded by Billy Downs.
In a note on the front door, bd’s Mongolian Grill officials wrote:
“Dear bd’s Guests
It is with utmost regret and a deep well of gratitude that after 28 years, we are saying goodbye. It has been a pleasure getting to know you, being a part of your birthdays, anniversaries, first dates, celebrating the wins and getting through the losses of our Wolverines.
You all have been a huge part of our lives and we will forever be grateful for the impact you have made on us.
You can still visit us at our other locations in Canton, Dearborn, Novi, and Sterling Heights”
Another note on the door from May 19 declares the building “unsafe for human occupancy or use” and forbids anyone from entering. It cites several ordinances, the 2015 Michigan Building Code and sections of the Ann Arbor Municipal Code for “dangerous buildings”.
Located in what is considered a historic building, the Ann Arbor eatery temporarily closed its rented space in 2020 for a $225,000 renovation as part of a nationwide attempt to revitalize the Mongolian Grill brand.
A PR firm representing the brand issued the following statement:
“For many years, BD’s Mongolian Grill has been a staple spot in the Ann Arbor community for families, coworkers, and friends to gather. Above all else, our top priority has always been and continues to be providing all of our guests with a safe and welcoming environment to enjoy a nice meal and spend quality time together.
In recent months, we have been in discussion with our landlord at the BD’s restaurant formerly located at 200 S Main St. in Ann Arbor about fixing crucial structural issues to remain operational and provide a safe place for our guests to dine. Unfortunately, we couldn’t come to terms with the landlord and we had to make the difficult decision to close the current location in Ann Arbor, while seeking other real estate opportunities in the community.
We are grateful for the opportunity to have served the local community for nearly three decades and we are so thankful for the dedicated service of our BD’s Mongolian Grill team members in Ann Arbor.
We know that BD’s Mongolian Grill plays a special role in the community and in our loyal guests’ lives and we thank our customers for their many years of loyalty. We look forward to serving the Ann Arbor community again in the near future.”
Updates about the future of Ann Arbor location will be on the BD’s Mongolian Grill website.