Darryl Young has opened Moma G’s, a fast-casual carryout restaurant at 10801 W. Chicago St. in Detroit’s Barton-McFarland neighborhood, with support from a $100,000 Motor City Match grant through its Cash and Community Violence Intervention tracks. Young previously served a seven-year prison sentence and earned certifications in culinary arts, hospitality, and food safety before launching the restaurant in his home community, according to the City of Detroit.
Moma G’s menu includes items such as the Smash Burger, chili fries, wing dings, and daily specials, with prices capped at $5. Young told the City of Detroit, “I wanted to honor my mother’s name. I did what she wanted me to do and turned my life around.”
Deputy Mayor Melia Howard said programs like CVI support individuals committed to positive change, stating, “He’s showing young people in his neighborhood that your past doesn’t have to be your future.” Since opening in June, Moma G’s, a family-run restaurant known for its smash burger, has drawn customers from across the state and out of town. The restaurant plans to expand with a drive-thru operating seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The business is supported by Motor City Match, a partnership between the City of Detroit and community development financial institutions, which has provided $21 million in grants to minority, women, and Detroit resident-owned businesses. Owner Young said, “My goal is to show others that it’s never too late to rewrite your story.”
