Instead of heading to Subway or Wendy’s for lunch, students will soon be able to make a pit stop at the new Packard Pub and enjoy a hearty calzone or burger. Making its debut Monday, March 22, the Packard Pub will boast a full menu and bar and hopes to attract a plethora of students, faculty, and sports fans alike, regardless of business around Packard Street, general contractor and owner Kyle Miller said.
According to Miller, the Packard Pub, set up with a sports theme complete with big-screen TVs and a variety of fresh food, along with being just a short walk away from athletic facilities, is intended to attract all sports fans. The pub itself does not most any one special feature which will attract many customers, but unlike any other bar or pub in the Ann Arbor area, the Packard Pub has one thing the others do not: location.
“Why do I think they should come here,” said Miller. “For one thing, our food is all
Even talking to various coaches and faculty themselves, Miller said going to any other bar or restaurant “can easily burn 20 minutes”, and simply heading to the pub for lunch, before a football game, or later on at night saves a lot of time in terms of traveling, while increasing business on Packard Street as well.
One of the more difficult aspects of beginning the start of the business was acquiring a liquor license, Miller said. He applied for the Class C resort license, which requires a restaurant and full menu, among other requirements, in April 2009, but it took four months longer than expected because of some technical and expense difficulties. In turn, identification will be strict, for fear of losing his business, Miller said. However, the health department just recently visited the pub and gave its approval, so progress remains smooth.
Essentially, the Packard Pub is intended to create a lighter atmosphere, whether just watching a game or having lunch, Miller said. Even on the wall there is a mural of Michigan Stadium after a Penn State victory. Even though he is under a lot of stress now being the general contractor, Miller said he will not celebrate until after the grand opening. However, he is still excited for March 22.
“I can tell you one thing that I do know, I haven’t done any advertising except for the storefronts here, and anybody you talk to, anywhere, up on South University, Main Street, there’s a buzz already going around about this pub,” said Miller. “There’s faculty down here, a lot of coaches been in here. There’s a lot of buzz about Packard Pub opening in this area because there’s nothing like it out in this area. I know there’s a lot of juniors and seniors that live in this area here, so instead of having to walk a half a mile up the street, this can just be a good place to have a beer, stuff like that.”
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