8 - The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, July 13, 1994
Amer's deli takes over coffee shop in the Michigan Unioql
By Frank C. Lee
DAILY STAFF REPORTER
"Is this for here or to go?" is a
question often asked by Amer's Deli-
catessen employees, but nowadays it
may be a question better asked of the
deli itself.
The largest deli chain in the Mid-
west is expanding by moving into the
first-floor Michigan Union location
formerly occupied by CafdItalianD'ora
owned by Boyd's. Also, a new branch
of Amer's will open next month in
Birmingham, Mich., that will be even
larger than the Amer's on State Street.
The popular deli opened itsdoors at
the new location nearly a week ago.
The changeover happened overnight,
without closing the shop.
"With the track record of my other
stores, this store should bank off the
successtheothertwohave,"saidAmer
Bathish, owner and president of
Amer's.
Although currently operational,
some changes are in store for the new
deli. Under the lease agreement with
the Michigan Union, Amer's will not
servesandwichesorsalads.TheAmer's
in the Union, however, will accept
Entrde Plus.
"Basically the contract that they
assumed was for coffees and breakfast
pastries," said Audrey Schwimmer,
director of the Michigan Union. "But
initially we've agreed on the arrange-
ments of the contract he's assuming
from Boyd's. Ithink there is apossibil-
ity that they may in the future sell
sandwiches and salads. It's something
that I've told Amer's that we will talk
about as we see how his business
progresses."
Cafe Java in Ann Arbor and Club
Cappuccino in Eastern Michigan
University'sMcKenny Union were also
considered for the space, but Amer's
purchased it at the end of May earlier
this year.
Boyd's Coffee, based on the West
Coast, vacated the Michigan Union
location forlogisticalpurposes. "It was
difficulthaving aheadquarters that was
3,000 miles away from the store,"
Schwimmer said.
Amer's Deli offers catering, gift
baskets, cappuccino, fresh squeezed
juices, gourmet coffee, teas, pastries
and tortes in a caf6 setting.
"Boyd only had like four or five
drinks, a few muffins and bagels, a
things like that," Bathish said.
"What we're going to do more isgo
into the more delicate pastries, more of
a selection in coffee and cold drinks,
and we'll be offering bottled drinks,"
Bathish said.
Other changes include another
cappuccino and register area and im-
proving foot traffic flow.
"The clientele that I'm getting here
is going to include a lot of faculty t
I'd nevergetouton thestreets,"Bathis
said.
Bathish's first store, Capital Cafe
- opened in 1988 -is still located in
Flint, Mich.
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