Coffeeshop cluster****: Willow House vs. Willo House

By Michele Laudig Last fall, I reported on how coffeeshop/hangout the Willow House was being inexplicably booted from its longstanding home on McDowell Road. The place was closed by late October, but managed to find a new location before long. December's First Friday was its grand reopening party at 1722...

By Michele Laudig

August 8, 2008

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By Michele Laudig

Last fall, I reported on how coffeeshop/hangout the Willow House was being inexplicably booted from its longstanding home on McDowell Road. The place was closed by late October, but managed to find a new location before long. December's First Friday was its grand reopening party at 1722 W. Van Buren.

But have you noticed anything going on at the old location (149 W. McDowell)? Turns out, the building's owners are opening a coffeeshop there, and are calling it the Willo House, which is consistent with the name of the nearby historic district, but also rides on the previous proprietors' name, minus one letter.

My pal Donald Martinez pointed out the mini-shitstorm this has generated on The Shizz, the local music and culture website.

What do you make of all this? Do you think it's lame that the new place will ride on the reputation of the old one? Do you even care? I know the Willow House has had plenty of fans as well as plenty of detractors, so it'll be interesting to see how everything shakes out.

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