Kitab Cafe, the coffee shop and bookstore that's become a fixture in Hamtramck and Midtown, is now setting its sights on downtown Detroit. The company has submitted an application for space at 1260 Library Street, a storefront tucked next to Mootz Pizzeria + Bar and directly across from Library Park, in what would mark its third Metro Detroit location.
Owner Ahmed Alwhysee told WhatNow Detroit that there's no opening date to share yet, since the project remains early in the permitting process. The proposed spot sits in the north end of downtown, near Vincente's Cuban Cuisine and the Gucci Library Street location.
From Hamtramck Bookshop to Downtown Contender
Kitab Cafe's roots trace back to January 2023, when Alwhysee and his wife, Asma Almulaiki, opened the original location at 2727 Holbrook in Hamtramck. The couple built the spot into something more than a coffee counter, describing it as a community space meant to foster meaningful conversation, according to the Detroit Free Press. That mission carried over to public programming, including art builds and film screenings that Kitab has hosted for the community, as noted by Michigan Public on its Stateside podcast.
The pair expanded into Midtown in February 2024, taking over the former Avalon Bakery space at 422 W. Willis Street, per the Metro Times. That location held its soft opening on a Friday in mid-February 2024 with hours running 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the outlet reported at the time. The Midtown menu leaned on baked goods, baguettes and soups from Ann Arbor's Zingerman's alongside coffee drinks and Arabic specialties like Adeni chai and Yemeni coffee.
What's on the Menu, and What's Still Unknown
WhatNow Detroit's report notes the chain expects to bring many of the same offerings to the new downtown storefront. That includes coffee drinks like the cookie butter latte and cinnamon roll latte, plus kitchen staples such as egg and cheese bagels, a caprese sandwich and breakfast sandwiches. Michigan Public has also reported that Kitab's beverage lineup draws from Philadelphia-based La Colombe, with pastries delivered daily from Zingerman's.
What remains unclear is how far along the downtown application actually is. Alwhysee's comments to WhatNow Detroit made clear only that the permitting process is in its early stages, without specifying a construction timeline or projected staffing for the new spot. Before any restaurant can open in Detroit, city guidance requires a pre-opening inspection and sign-off from the Food Safety Plan Review Officer and other inspectors, according to a City of Detroit guide, which notes that the Building Safety and Engineering Department must approve scaled plans and specifications.
For now, Alwhysee and the Kitab Cafe team say updates on the downtown project will come through the cafe's website or social media pages. With Hamtramck and Midtown already carrying the brand's mix of coffee, books and community programming, a Library Park storefront would place Kitab in the north end of downtown, right alongside Mootz Pizzeria + Bar.
