Restaurant coming to Gap site

Source: Birmingham Eccentric
Cosi, a New York-based chain specializing in Italian-style restaurants and coffee shops, will set up shop this summer at the corner of Old Woodward and Maple in a building that once housed The Gap clothing store.

A 5,000 square foot building that was home to The Gap for 20 years is getting a new tenant who promises to bring something new to downtown Birmingham's dining scene.

Cosi, a New York-based concept chain, plans to have a restaurant operating in the former Gap building by late summer.

"We are looking forward to coming to Birmingham," said Rammy Harwood, marketing director for Cosi. "The city offers us some very good opportunities."

Cosi will occupy the first floor of the building. The second floor is available for office leasing.

Cosi was started in New York in 1996 as a specialty sandwich restaurant and tavern that shared a building with Xando, a coffee house.

The two joined forces in 1999 at a test store in the city that took on three different personalities: a morning coffee shop, a lunch and dinner restaurant and an evening night spot with a full service bar.

Cosi, from the Italian term meaning "like this," specializes in self-made sandwiches.

"Like this - it means make your sandwich any way you want, like this," Harwood said.

The Xando aspect will add to Birmingham's abundant collection of coffee houses but with a twist.

"The thing about Cosi is the bread," Harwood said. "We will have the best coffee and the best bread and other baked goods waiting for them."

Harwood said his company is still trying to secure a liquor license for the operation.

Building co-owner Arnold Krieger confirmed the finalization of negotiations with Cosi.

"We've actually been working with them since just shortly after The Gap left," Krieger said.

Cosi plans to expand both in Michigan and throughout the country within the next year. A store is expected to open in Ann Arbor and another undisclosed location in the state by 2002.

Going public
Next year, Cosi plans to go public with an initial stock offering, according to its Web site and Harwood.

Krieger said securing a strong company like Cosi is good for his interests and for the city.

"It's always good when you can get a strong tenant into a site," Krieger said.

The Gap maintained a strong presence in Birmingham for 20 years until its closing last August.
Source: Birmingham Eccentric