1

The Congregation

The Congregation - Rosa Parks Boulevard, Detroit MI

The Congregation is a repurposed church near Boston Edison. It has an incredible ambiance. My favorite things to order here are the spicy mocha and charcuterie. I spoke with one of the owners, Betsy Murdoch, and she shared some of the behind the scenes details about The Congregation with me. Almost 5 years ago, a few neighbors came together and talked about what they wish they had, a place to congregate. Therefore, it was serendipity when the church went up for sale shortly after. Even though covid came about shortly after their opening, they have come out on top and have made a great addition to the community. Betsy loves cultivating relationships with the neighbors through programming and events to engage people safely. They are also contributing to the success of many local artists by employing live music and decorating with a monthly art rotation. The Congregation works closely with the Boston Edison Association and the Atkinson Association. @thecongregationdetroit

2

Cannelle Detroit

Cannelle Detroit - West Grand River Avenue, Detroit MI

Cannelle is located right in Capitol Park, which happens to be my favorite spot in the city. My order here is a dirty chai tea latte with a strawberry tart and coffee macaron. Almost any day of the week, you will be greeted by one of the most wonderful people that I have ever met, Rawaa Knio. She always wears a smile underneath her mask and embodies exceptional customer service. I had the pleasure of talking to Rawaa about her experience in Capitol Park. She moved into the city about two years ago, when the store first opened. The owner is Rawaa’s brother, Matt Knio. They are both French, which definitely shows in the ambiance of the shop. Rawaa has been experiencing Detroit from behind the Cannelle counter and she claims that the community here feels like a family. Rawaa has become an integral part of Capitol Park and adds so much light to both Cannelle and the community here. @cannelledetroit

3

Yellow Light Coffee & Donuts

Yellow Light Coffee and Donuts - East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit MI

Yellow Light Coffee and Donuts is a newfound gem in the area. The store is located right on East Jefferson towards Grosse Pointe. I do all of my grocery shopping at the Trader Joes around the corner from Yellow Light and it has now become my first stop every other week. The beans are roasted fresh in house, so I order my coffee black accompanied with the lemon poppy seed doughnut. After sitting with one of the owners, Niko Dimitrijevic, I quickly found that there is much more to this store than just coffee and doughnuts. The name ‘Yellow Light’ is intended to show that the store offers a middle ground; the price point is one that offers approachability and affordability without sacrificing quality. At first, this storefront was a ‘Krispy Krunchy Chicken,’ and already belonged to one of the owners. In order link the shop to what it used to be, they chose to keep the idea of fried foods involved by implementing doughnuts to their menu. They make these doughnuts from scratch, each day and they are definitely worth trying! One of the coolest parts about this store is the design. Niko has a background in arts and chose to use these skills to handcraft most of the interiors down to the glass blown light fixtures. Along with great food, coffee and design, the shop also has become an amazing addition to the community. Throughout the pandemic, they teamed up with meet up and eat up to ensure that children are eating 3 nutritious meals throughout the day. They help out with meal distribution and have truly made a difference in their community. Niko’s mother grew up right in this area, so once he moved back to the neighborhood, Niko naturally fell in love with the community. Yellow Light has become an incredible addition to this area and I am excited to see how they can help this community continue to grow! @yellowlightdetroit

4

Avalon International Breads

Avalon International Breads - West Willis Street, Detroit MI

Avalon is located right on the corner of Cass and Willis only a few blocks from Wayne State University. My favorite order here is an oat milk latte with the house-made syrup. They change up this syrup seasonally and it never disappoints! If you are lucky enough, a friendly man that goes by Atiba will make your drink and share some positive thoughts in order to start your day off on a good note. My favorite meal to order here is the avocado toast. It comes with fresh cucumber on top and an incredible blend of spices. Avalon has also encouraged activism throughout the entire Black Lives Matter Movement which shows their dedication to improving our community. I could write all day about the strides that they have made in order to make a difference, but I encourage you to instead check it out yourself! @avalonbakery

5

Babo

Babo - East Kirby Street, Detroit MI

Babo is another great stop for food, coffee, and community in Midtown. The name stems from the Arabic slang for 'dad,' which is apparent in their exceptional hospitality and the artisanal comfort foods that they serve. When it comes to community, the food that they serve is locally sourced and produced in small batches. My favorite order here is the eggs benedict with a simple almond milk latte. @babo_detroit