Kalamazoo Mall Loses One Restaurant As Another Opens

The Kalamazoo mall is one of the many things that makes the city of Kalamazoo famous and historical as this was the first walking mall in the entire country and started a trend. Since then, the Kalamazoo mall hasn't changed much other than the ever-changing business industry and the process of adding parking spots. In my short, 25 years of living there have been several lease changes in downtown Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo mall.

We're getting ready to see another change on the walking mall in downtown Kalamazoo as a local favorite will be closing its doors and kitchen but will be swiftly replaced by a new restaurant business. You have any ideas of who might be leaving downtown? Do you have any places on the Kalamazoo mall that you frequent often and are hoping they aren't going to be mentioned. This decision may come as a surprise to some but a long-awaited goodbye for others.

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The restaurant that many local people have come to fall in love with, Youz Guys Dogz, will be closing its doors as their last day serving hot dogs to the people of Kalamazoo and the surrounding area will be Friday, September 20th. For the last three years, Monte Janssen has been serving hundreds of dogs out of his small window on the Kalamazoo Mall. Now, he is preparing to sell the last of his New York, Chicago, and Chili dogs.

Janssen with be selling the building to Joey and Jenna Gamrat, the owners of Grazing Table. They will be opening up on October 1st, under the new name of Copper's Doghouse, which is named after their mini–Golden Doodle, Copper. Copper and Callie are big fans of hot dogs and ice cream, so they are hoping other dog owners will bring their fur ever friends by the window for free mini-cones and mini dogs.

The Gamrat's will be looking to serve a similar menu to that of Youz Guys Dogz but they will be adding soft serve ice cream as well. They are looking to take the energy that Youz Guys Dogz has brought to Kalamazoo and expound on that, but they aren't trying to compete with any other Downtown Kalamazoo businesses and will be adding things they don't already offer.

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Although Janssen is moving on for the time being and trying to have more success in his DJ career, he has said that is a possibility for a Youz Guys Dogz return but he needs a larger building where he can make Smash Burgers, Onion Rings, Hot Dogs and more. Copper’s Doghouse is planning to celebrate its grand opening on Tuesday, Oct. 1st. The new business will be open from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.