ann arbor is overrated.

After eleven months in Ann Arbor, many things are still perplexing. But there’s no mystery quite as impenetrable as the “Coney Island” meme in restaurant naming. First there was Leo’s Coney Island. Okay. But then Ann Arbor Sucks came across Abe’s Coney Island, Mr. Greek’s Coney Island, Alpha Coney Island and any number of others whose names elude at the moment. These Coney Islands don’t share a common menu, decor or anything else you’d expect from a chain.

For a while, Ann Arbor Sucks was content merely to enjoy the early-90’s EMU fraternity group photos at Abe’s (the only 24-hour Coney Island around here.) But upon finding out that Leo’s had been voted “Best Coney Island” by Metro Times, it became impossible to ignore. Why are these Coney Islands so different that they inspire a competition, yet so similarly named? Can any longtime resident help me out here?