Kai Garden closes in downtown Ann Arbor as restaurant listed for sale

Another restaurant closing has opened a vacancy on South Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor.

Kai Garden closed last month and the owners now are listing the downtown Ann Arbor restaurant for sale.

Michigan Commercial Realty broker Bob Andrus is handling the listing for the business, which includes the liquor license.

All equipment and fixtures are included in the sale, along with a lease obligation for four-and-a-half years for the property at 116 S. Main. The lease covers 1,539 square feet on the first floor and the basement. The asking price for the business is $195,000.

The property is owned by Ann Arbor developer Ed Shaffran, who bought it last year for $450,000.

Kai Garden’s closure adds to the growing number of vacancies in the downtown area created by restaurants leaving town. Earlier this month, The Melting Pot closed without warning, joining What Crepe?, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, La Marsa and Biggby Coffee as downtown eateries that closed this year.

Along Main Street alone the former spaces of Kai Garden, Vellum, Sheesh, Melting Pot, and Middle Kingdom are not open for business.

Work has been ongoing at the former Middle Kingdom building at 332 S. Main, where Kouzina was expected to open earlier this year. Signs have been hung on the building, but an opening date has not been announced.

Matt Durr is a business reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Email him at mattdurr@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.

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