The future of a popular nightspot is up in the air after the building owners listed the space for sale.

Woodruff’s operator Hasan Mihyar said the business could appear somewhere else, but its future is up in the air right now.

“I would love to find a spot or a place where I can have a home for musicians,” he said. “I would love for it to be in Ypsilanti. I’m committed to make it a spot where people can come and hang out and have a good time. Ypsilanti will be my first and mostly only choice.”

Building owner Sandee French said the business space – not the building – has been listed with Swisher Commerical agent Dave Hamilton for $75,000. French owns the building with her husband Bill French.

The space, located at 36 E. Cross St., was listed at the end of December. The liquor license, as well as the furniture, would be included in the sale, Hamilton said. The listing states the location is being marketed as a potential space for a restaurant.

Sandee French said it was a joint decision with Mihyar for the business space to be put on the market. French said she’s interested in having a long-term lease. Hamilton said Woodruff’s has a month-to-month lease.

“Woodruff’s is very successful and we’re thrilled to have Woodruff’s in Depot Town,” French said. “It brings a lot of vitality and Hasan has been a great operator. The reason we decided to list is we want a long-term operation lease. Currently Hasan is not a long-term operator. However, as long as the line is still out there and it hasn’t sold, Hasan will remain.

“We, Bill and I, want to put our focus more on our Aubrees’ franchising that we’re involved in. It makes it more difficult to try and keep all of that straight. We would like to find someone that’s a long term operator and purchaser of the business.”

Mihyar said the decision to sell the business was not an easy one, but the long-term lease was too expensive.

“It breaks my heart,” Mihyar said. “I couldn’t commit to a long-term lease. We agreed on a smooth transition and until they find somebody, they will keep it open for me. Woodruff’s is very important for the Ypsilanti community. It’s sad, but business is business. Hopefully another spot will open up and I can keep pursuing what I do and until then, me and my staff, we’re committed to keeping the place going and keeping the doors open.”

Woodruff’s over the years has become a popular location for live music and local bands.

“That’s basically what makes Woodruff’s popular,” Mihyar said. “We just serve drinks, they’re the ones that make Woodruff’s what it is.”

The Woodruff’s staff has been informed of the sale.

“I’m an open book with them,” he said. “When the time comes, hopefully we’ll have enough time for me to help them find jobs or tell them we found a spot. I’m going to make sure my staff will be in good hands and taken of.”

Prior to Woodruff’s, French operated Cady’s Grill Bar in the location from 1993 until 2008 when it closed. Woodruff’s opened shortly after that in 2009, French said.

Woodruff’s is located a 36 E. Cross St. in YpsilantiBrianne Bowen | The Ann Arbor News 

Woodruff’s was opened by Mihyar and Andy Garris, who is no longer associated with the business.

Cady’s operated as a full-service restaurant and French said she believes Depot Town would welcome another.

“It would be suitable as a restaurant since it was one for so long,” she said. “It has a wonderfully large and fully equipped kitchen, which is why we’re promoting that side of it. We have always thought that a restaurant in that location would be successful. We think it would be one of the better locations in Ypsilanti for a full-service location. We just couldn’t commit the time that it takes to run a restaurant and we appreciate what Hasan has done in bringing a nightclub into the space.”

The Frenches are also owners of the popular Aubree’s Pizzeria and Grill at 39 E. Cross St.

Although French believes the location is suitable for a restaurant, she said she would be open to a concept similar to what Woodruff’s is.

“We would be open to any offer that would keep the vitality in Depot Town,” French said.”We want it to be run as a business should be run and would utilize all of the perks that we have in our area.”

While the Frenches actively search for a new operator, Woodruff’s will remain open. French said it usually takes time to find a good fit.

“We’re just looking for a long-term operation and until then nothing changes,” French said. “In our past experience it quite often takes a long time to find a perfect operator to make a offer.”

The location seats 120 and has 12 bar stools and 75 seasonal patio seats. The business occupies 5,600 square feet of space and has 1,200 square feet of storage in the basement.

Hamilton said there’s been some initial interest in the business.

“We’ve had a couple responses,” he said. “But, nothing that has materialized. It’s still early.”

Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for The Ann Arbor News. Reach her at KatreaseStafford@mlive.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on Twitter.