Vacant for more than a decade, the building that now houses Pho on the Block was purchased by the Kalamazoo County Land Bank, and then partially renovated in 2016 as part of a contest called “Fare Games,” participants vied using “small bites” for a prize package that included leasing the renovated property, with a final build-out to follow.  Winners were two entrepreneurs with a connection to Kalamazoo, who had long-dreamt of opening a restaurant.