It is kind of like day one all over again: we have an idea of where we’re going and how we’ll get there, but there’s still a lot of work left to be done. Nevertheless, it is a great feeling to see physical progress on our plans.

The big guys with the big trucks marked off the site this morning to start digging a new foundation for what will eventually be our bagel production space between PJs Lager House and the existing bagel building.

First lesson learned, we have to get a porta potty on site (it’ll be there tomorrow, fellas!).

If you have any questions about construction or anything else you can email ben@detroitinstituteofbagels.com or call 313-444-9342.

More to come. Thanks for your patience.

It’s kind of amazing when we stop to think about what a bagel, something that is so simple, has allowed us to do. In the last year, we have had the opportunity to vend at Eastern Market (Tuesdays are back), received incredibly gracious media coverage, met all sorts of inspiring people, and purchased a strategically located property. Then, over the past six months, we thoroughly examined how we can use this opportunity to improve place, connect communities, foster healthy competition, and most importantly in the short run, satiate Detroiters’ demand for great bagels.

While we won’t be able to get you great bagels for a few more months, we can whet your appetite with our ideas for improving place and connecting communities. Our location, 1236 Michigan Avenue, is the default gateway to Corktown. This is a responsibility we don’t take lightly. We have attempted to design a place that welcomes people traveling from Downtown into the neighborhood. Our design is intended to invite both customers arriving by way of auto and customers who will arrive by way of bus rapid transit. We also wish to use design to encourage customers to explore Detroit on foot. Pedestrians can either head west to Roosevelt Park or east to Campus Martius, both of which are less than 15 minute walks and probably only feel like 10 after carb-loading on some bagels! Below are some concepts for context. Click and then click again for large versions.

In all honesty things are moving along pretty smoothly and we’re still aiming to be open in 2012. We know you want bagels (like now!), but we plan to be around here for a long time and we’re building a space to reflect our long-term plans. This means not cutting corners or merely investing the minimum required to renovate the space into a bagel shop. We’re confident that once we’re done renovating, you’ll be impressed. We’d go as far as saying that this will be the best designed bagel shop in the world! No joke. We can say that because there are a ton of amazingly talented people helping inform and facilitate our build-out. From the designers, architects and contractors to the folks who work for the city and in economic development, our experiences thus far bode well for the future of Detroit. Some pictures with captions follow. We’ll have drawings for your viewing pleasure available soon. Thanks for your continued support. Bagels!

Where your bagels will be displayed.

Where you'll sit and look out onto Michigan Avenue and towards Downtown.

Where your bagel dough will be made. Yum!

Where you'll enter, lock your bike and enjoy our outdoor seating.

Where we'll fix the masonry.

Where you'll park.