Although we are sad to see the Detroit institute of Bagels go, there will be a new coffee shop in town to check out.
After seven years of the Detroit Institute of Bagels serving their fans, this beloved bagel shop closed their doors and the building was sold to James Oliver Coffee Company. Detroit Institute of Bagels owner, Newman, shut down the bagel shop after a delivery truck mishap that caused a power surge, fried the restaurant’s fridge and putting Detroit’s only independently owned bagel shop out of commission. Along with this incident, the pandemic and a desire to spend more quality time with his family also gave him the push to sell.
You may have guessed it but James Oliver started this roasting company, James Oliver Coffee, with his wife, Annie, in New Hampshire in 1955. After many many years, this coffee company is now headed to Detroit as a flagship cafe.
As far the menu goes, you can still get a Detroit Institute of Bagels, bagel or sandwich, alongside James Oliver coffee, espresso bar, tea, and the option of a pour-over station. Down the road this coffee shop is even looking to serve wine so you can have a bagel, coffee and a glass of wine. James Oliver Coffee Co. is talking about planning to team up with Leelanau Peninsula winery, Baia Estate, to turn an old 32-foot Airstream trailer into a wine tasting room and park it in the adjacent courtyard.
James Oliver Coffee is expected to open within the next two months. Meanwhile, coffee drinkers can find James Oliver coffee at Alma Kitchen, Cannelle, the Great Commoner Spot Lite and several other locations in Metro Detroit as well.
Many changes are currently being put into place to prepare to open their doors. Aesthetic changes and even construction to open up the dining space is all currently in motion. There will even be a pickup window in the back and a drive-up window, so customers can easily get their order without having to come in.
Originally, this cafe planned to open their first James Oliver Coffee Co. cafe near where they live in the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood on Gratiot, but then this location in Corktown became available and was relatively turnkey so they decided on Corktown to start the next phase of the family business.
James Oliver Coffee Co., 1236 Michigan Avenue, www.jamesolivercoffee.com
