Morningside Cafe Preparing for Restoration

This is the vandal who broke into Morningside Cafe the morning of August 22. Image courtesy of Morningside Cafe

Morningside Cafe offers more than just coffee; it has become a gathering spot in our community. Like many small businesses, it's a place that connects neighbors and adds to the unique vibe of our area. So, when the cafe was broken into in late August for the second time this year, it had a dampening effect on its many patrons.

East Warren Development Corporation (EWDC), who supports community engagement with businesses and projects along the Warren Street Corridor, says that "Morningside Cafe means a lot to this neighborhood. We’ve talked with Jeff and are taking his lead on how we can help, whether that means finding emergency support, bringing the community together, or helping make the café more secure for the future. We’re here to stand with him and do our part to help keep this important space open and thriving.”

Talking with Jeff has been an important part of taking next steps. He is disappointed and shocked that he would have to close his business due to the break-in: to assess the damage, talk to the police, work with insurance adjusters. Most importantly, he’s looking forward to reopening. Aftan Malone, the District 4 Business Liaison wants to see this former Motor City Match Awardee re-open too and will be working with her team to organize a formal fundraiser to retro-fit the building with roll-down security shutters for the windows.

Jeff has also created a GoFundMe to begin to cover repair costs.

The Morningside Community Organization Board is dedicated to collaborating with residents, local law enforcement, and city officials to give voice to neighborhood concerns and make our community more resilient for everyone. We look forward to Jeff reopening the doors of the Morningside Cafe. Then, as a community, we can gather again to support one of the many local businesses we value. Anyone with information about this incident can contact investigators at the Detroit Police Department at (313) 596-5540 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

The individual responsible for the break-in at Morningside Cafe. Image courtesy of Morningside Cafe