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A new microbrewery is planned for a space at the corner of Washington and Pearl streets in downtown Ypsilanti.

(Tom Perkins | For The Ann Arbor News)

The owners of a proposed downtown Ypsilanti microbrewery searched across Washtenaw County for the perfect spot to serve up pints.

They found that location at the corner of Pearl and Washington streets.

"Ypsilanti is positioning itself for good growth because there are a lot of costs in Ann Arbor so people are going to drift to another place," said owner David Roberts. "Now there's a nucleus in downtown, in Depot Town. A nucleus that's helping the city work itself back up and get back on its feet."

The brewery, tentatively called the Ypsi Alehouse, is the first established by Mishigama Craft Brewing and is planned for the historic Centennial Building at 124 Pearl St.

At its Tuesday night meeting, the Ypsilanti City Council approved a liquor license for the business, and Mishigama now must await state and federal approvals before proceeding.

Roberts, a retired General Motors executive, is partnering with Ted Badgerow, the former owner and head brewer at the Real Ale Company in Chelsea. The partners met through their kids, who are now married. Roberts is a home winemaker and Badgerow has had a dream of opening his own brewery, so they decided to go in business together, Roberts said.

The 5,700-square-foot ground floor space previously housed Korey's Krispy Krunchy Chicken and a Buffalo Wild Wings, providing seating for up to 120 with a full kitchen.

Mishigama signed a 42-month letter of intent to lease the space, which is in an office building that's 90 percent full but was built as a hotel in the 1920s.

Plans call for providing a tasteful interior in line with the building's historic character. Much of the original brick is in good condition, most of the renovation work is cosmetic and Roberts estimates only spending $40,000 to makeover the space, though he's counting on help from friends in keeping the figure that low.

The brewery will offer a range of beers but specialize in stouts and ales, and eventually serve food, though Roberts said it's still too early to provide menu details. Live music including solo and acoustic acts - not amplified bands - is also planned.

The location and formula are strong, Roberts said and he pointed to the quick success of nearby Red Rock Downtown Barbecue and Maize Mexican Cantina Restaurant as examples of similar businesses making it in Ypsi. He noted that the brewery would also open as demand for craft beer increases.

"Sometimes demographics change, people change their tastes and now they're wanting something more than the standard Bud, Miller and Coors, and I don't know if they'll ever go back," he said.