Bowerbird Social, a new all-day cafe and future wine bar, is slated for the vacant storefront at 210 W. Michigan Ave. in downtown Ypsilanti. Brent and Kelley Krahn, who live in the space above, plan to start out with coffee drinks and pastries, then expand into wine and small bites if the concept proves successful. Interior work is already underway, city inspections are in motion, and the couple has yet to announce an opening date.
According to What Now Detroit, the storefront previously housed the Bowerbird Mongo antique shop, and the Krahns have been working on the project for about a month. They told the outlet they believe there is demand in Ypsilanti for an all-day gathering spot, so they are keeping the opening menu intentionally modest. The owners have also shared a community survey to collect ideas from neighbors.
“It needs to grow organically,” Brent Krahn told What Now Detroit. As reported, the plan is to pursue a liquor license and add the wine bar component only after interior work clears inspections and the cafe’s first phase is up and running.
Where It Will Sit
The new cafe is set on a busy stretch of W. Michigan Ave., directly to the left of Ziggy's and a short walk from several downtown fixtures. Ziggy's lists its address as 206 W. Michigan Ave.; nearby Red Rock Barbecue sits at 207 W. Michigan Ave., and the longstanding Tap Room is at 201 W. Michigan Ave. The block also includes the community-focused Bridge Community Cafe at 217 W. Michigan Ave.
Next Steps
The Krahns say they intend to move ahead with licensing and city approvals once inspections are complete and the cafe’s early operations prove stable. In the meantime, they are collecting feedback and signups for soft-launch updates through their website, Bowerbird Cafe.
