Another South State Street Business Closes

Another South State Street business closes

Another of Ann Arbor’s South State Street stores has packed up and left: Park Avenue Cafe closed Tuesday, at the end of its five-year lease at 211 S. State St. Owner Mark Pavach said he and his landlord disagreed on lease renewal.

A University of Michigan grad, Pavach also has a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University, the Rhode Island school specializing in food and hotel management. He plans to continue catering coffee breaks and lunches, working from a commercial kitchen in the Ann Arbor area. The phone number will remain the same, as will the menu of sandwiches, soups and breads. The juice bar is gone.

Park Avenue’s departure closely follows those of several other South State Street businesses. Maize ‘N Brew and Caribou Coffee departed at the end of March, preceded by Crown House of Gifts, their owners pointing to quickly rising rents in the State Street area.

According to Swisher Realty agent Jeff Hauptman, new leases are going for about $35 per square foot.

If all goes according to plan, Roberto Candelaria will open a second location of Sabor Latino in the space Park Avenue vacated, possibly by the first or second week of May. The new place, Sabor Latino Taqueria, will cater to students, concentrating on the basics: tacos, burritos, tamales, beans and rice.

The original Sabor Latino, which opened two years ago at 211 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor, offers the basics as well as rotating features from different Latin American countries, such as Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Candelaria has his hands full. He plans to expand the North Main Street place about the same time the taqueria opens.

“We’ve just been totally packed,” he says. “ We need more room.”

He’s leased space immediately north, formerly a law office, and plans to add more tables and an all-you-can-eat Sunday buffet. After the new section opens, Sabor Latino will seal about 100.

NEWS PHOTO - ELLI GURFINKEL

Photo Caption: Park Avenue Cafe on South State Street closed its doors on Tuesday.