Former NBA players open cafe-speakeasy in Detroit
Sarah RahalDetroit — Former NBA players and brothers, Joe and Jordan Crawford, celebrated the grand opening this month of their cafe-bar in their hometown.
Now open in Detroit's Rivertown district, CRED Café let's patrons buy snacks and pastries, and sip on coffee by day. At night, a hidden door leads to a speakeasy reminiscent of the city's Prohibition-era establishments. The space, located at 6340 E. Jefferson Ave., operates as a coffee shop, bar and event space combined.
The coffee is sourced from Coffee Uplifts People, a company owned by radio personality Angela Yee. Meanwhile, the bar, lounge and event space can host 75 people.
The brothers said they conceived the idea for CRED Café while traveling abroad. Noting a lack of similar spaces in Detroit, the brothers pitched the idea of transforming their family-owned event space into a cafe to their parents and younger brother.
The family applied to the city's Motor City Match small-business program and was awarded a $60,000 grant to help with renovations and equipment.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. joined the Crawford family for a ribbon-cutting in Rivertown.
Their mother, Sylvia Crawford, recalled driving her boys to school discussing Detroit’s comeback and instilling a desire in her family to contribute to the city’s resurgence.
“Our story is one of passion, commitment and a genuine desire to contribute to Detroit's growth,” said Sylvia Crawford, who also serves as the cafe’s president and CEO. “We started with a dream and transformed a vacant, blighted building into a multifaceted space that reflects the spirit of our community.”
She said CRED Café is committed to employing Detroiters and has partnered with several city-based contractors.
“It represents how individuals like Joe and Jordan who have achieved success at the highest levels outside of Detroit and Michigan are coming back home to reinvest in the city that raised them," said Duggan. 'I'm so proud of what they have done with CRED Cafe, and I just know the community will support them."
Motor City Match is a partnership between the city of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., the Economic Development Corp. and the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Act. Motor City Match applications are available quarterly. Through its last 24 rounds, the program has distributed $15.7 million in cash grants, 82% to minority-owned businesses, 71% women-owned businesses. 67% are owned by Detroit residents, according to the Mayor's Office.
“From morning coffee to evening cocktails and everything between, there is always something happening at CRED Cafe,” said Sean Gray, vice president of Small Business Services at the DEGC, responsible for managing the Motor City Match program.
“Those conversations years ago as Momma Sylvia drove her boys to school, cultivating their dream of uplifting Detroit, have truly blossomed. Now we all get to be part of the special community space this ambitious family has created right here in our amazing city.”