Detroit Sip Starts Brewing in Bagley in November

Detroit’s Bagley neighborhood will gain a new coffee shop next month with the opening of Detroit Sip. Owner Jevona Watson confirms to Eater that her Northwest Detroit cafe and community space will make its debut from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on November 18.

Detroit Sip is located 7420 W McNichols Rd. on a block that’s largely comprised of vacant storefronts, with the exception of a nearby barber college and a liquor store. However, Watson saw an opportunity to fill a niche in the area nestled between University of Detroit-Mercy and Marygrove College.

While she acknowledges that it’s not always easy being one of the first businesses to return to an area, for Watson it was important to reinvest in her neighborhood. “If you don’t deposit something in your home, then you’re just making withdrawals,” she says.

Although Watson had the vision for her cafe, she’s spent much of the past several years learning the ropes of owning a small business while working full-time as an attorney in Macomb County. Watson gained funding through small business loan crowdfunding programs and also received a grant through Motor City Match. She also honed her business plan by connecting with local organizations including Food Lab Detroit and Build Institute.

Local business owners such as April Anderson at Good Cakes and Bakes on Livernois Avenue also provided support and guidance throughout the process of opening, Watson says. “I’ve found that with small business owners particularly in that area everyone is really helpful,” she says. “It really is a close-knit community because everyone’s going through it together.”

With Detroit Sip, Watson hopes to emphasize locally made products. “It really is a celebration of small business owners in the city of Detroit, because at times it hasn’t been as easy to navigate the process and I just want to be a forum to uplift those business owners,” Watson says.

The cafe will serve both hot and chilled coffee and espresso drinks brewed with beans from Germack and Ashe Supply Co. Watson’s cafe will also offer a selection of teas, hot cocoa, and doughnuts from Woodward Avenue landmark Dutch Girl Donuts.

In addition to the main seating area, Detroit Sip also features a six-seat conference room with audio visual hookups and a TV for displaying presentations.

Although she’s set the date for the opening, Watson tells Eater that she is still determining what hours of operation will make most sense for Detroit Sip. After the opening, she plans to test hours Thursday through Sunday.

• New Café Aims to Enliven Bagley Neighborhood [ED]
• Two Cafes and a Slider Restaurant Awarded Motor City Match Grants [ED]
• All Detroit Sip Coverage [ED]