Konjo Me, the Detroit-based Ethiopian pop-up known for its coffee ceremonies, pop-up dinners and catering, has settled into a permanent stall inside the Detroit Shipping Company food hall in Midtown this week. That shift means Detroiters now get steadier access to injera, spicy stews and Ethiopian coffee rituals beyond the city's older, established Ethiopian restaurants. Founder Helina Melaku, who has spent years teaching cooking classes and selling packaged coffee and spices, is effectively turning that long-running side hustle into a full-time fixture.
From roaming pop-up to steady food-hall home
As reported by The Detroit News, Konjo Me has officially set up shop inside Detroit Shipping Company, marking Melaku's move from temporary pop-ups to a brick-and-mortar-style setup. The outlet also placed the debut alongside other recent woman-led African restaurant openings in the city, framing Konjo Me as part of a broader wave rather than a one-off.
Menu, injera and those coffee ceremonies
According to Konjo Me's website, the stall focuses on traditional Ethiopian plates built around injera, topped with stews like doro wat (marinated chicken) and misir (spiced red lentils). The menu is rounded out with packaged coffee, spice blends and hands-on cooking classes. BridgeDetroit has previously highlighted Melaku's Ethiopian coffee ceremonies, which are designed to introduce diners to Ethiopian culinary traditions and the communal style of service that comes with them.
Why Detroit Shipping Company makes sense
Detroit Shipping Company, a repurposed-container food hall in Midtown, hosts rotating independent vendors, a beer garden and regular events, which gives a concept like Konjo Me plenty of built-in foot traffic and visibility. The food hall's calendar already lists a Konjo Me grand-opening event, a sign that this is intended as a sustained presence rather than a quick guest appearance. For many small brands, setting up inside the Shipping Company functions as a lower-risk way to keep consistent hours and meet a wide mix of diners.
Konjo Me in Detroit's changing dining mix
Konjo Me's permanent stall arrives on the heels of other Black, woman-led African restaurant moves in Detroit, including the opening of Little Liberia in East English Village earlier this month. As noted by The Detroit News, the two openings point to a moment of growing visibility for African cuisines within the city's restaurant landscape.
How to find it
Konjo Me lists itself as “now open” inside the Detroit Shipping Company and shares contact details and event signups through its website. For current hours, special events and the food hall's programming, would-be diners are directed to check either the Detroit Shipping Company site or Konjo Me's site for the latest schedules and grand-opening details.
