Café Clark began with a question. For Eduardo Salas and Melisa Hernandez, both lifelong residents of Southwest Detroit, that question was simple but persistent: why, in a neighborhood that is rich with history, culture and growing investment, was there no dedicated café where people could gather, connect and feel at home?
“It’s one of those things where you realize, we need a space here that’s more than just a coffee shop. It’s a place for the community. Thankfully we have had that with more recent third spaces opening up, such as Vamonos and The Grand Porter, but this neighborhood can always have more and deserves more.” said Eduardo.
The idea for Café Clark traces back to the challenges and opportunities of 2020. Eduardo, whose background was in consulting and e-commerce, had been working at a tech company when the pandemic hit.
“Bonuses were cut, raises were cut, salaries were cut, and I found myself thinking, what can I control, build, and grow?” he recalled.
Around the same time, Eduardo and a friend were brainstorming their next business venture. They wanted something tangible, a product people could touch, feel and experience. That’s when coffee entered the picture.
Eduardo’s interest in coffee was rooted in his college experience at the University of Michigan. As a junior, he spent a month-long study abroad in Costa Rica focused on the sustainability of the coffee and chocolate industry.
“That’s how I first started learning about coffee,” he said.
Years later, he and his friend began experimenting with selling coffee through e-commerce, eventually sourcing beans directly from farmers in Guatemala, Mexico, and other regions. Eduardo focused on selling in Detroit, while also providing consulting services, helping businesses build out their business models, projections, and ultimately connecting with more people in the hospitality industry.
Melisa, meanwhile, had been deeply involved in managing Plaza Mexico, her family’s small Mexican restaurant in east Detroit that they had been running for decades, and celebrates their 25th anniversary this year.
“I was following the family business, but I never knew where it would take me,” she said.
When Eduardo mentioned the idea of opening a café to Melisa, she saw a clear connection to her experience in the service industry and her desire to contribute to the neighborhood.
“It felt very meant to be,” Melisa said.
The path from idea to reality was deliberate and data-driven. Eduardo built detailed revenue forecasts, analyzed neighborhood traffic patterns, and researched every operational cost, from the ounces of milk used per drink to staffing needs. Melisa contributed her expertise in food service and menu design, suggesting a simple rotating menu to complement the coffee and increase the average ticket size.
“Family support was a huge turning point for us,” Eduardo explained. “My mom said she would help with mornings, my dad offered to help with prep. While they may or may not as I recognize they’re getting older, it was that kind of immediate support which gave us confidence that we could take this on.”
Today, Café Clark is in the final stages of preparation with construction and equipment installations underway. The team is planning a soft open in Spring 2026, with a grand opening soon after.
The café will be located within La Joya Gardens, a mixed-use residential, retail and community project led by the Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA). Through funding from NEI, SDBA provided Eduardo and Melisa with guidance and connections to help align the café with broader neighborhood development goals. As a result of this collaboration, Café Clark will become more than just a business. It will serve as a true community hub.
“We’re combining our experiences, our love for this neighborhood, and our entrepreneurial drive. Café Clark is about creating something that people here can call their own,” said Eduardo.
For Melisa, the excitement is personal as well as professional. “We grew up here, we’ve seen this neighborhood change, and we wanted to contribute something meaningful. This café is our way of becoming a part of the growth and change in SW Detroit and building something that lasts.”
With the grand opening on the horizon, Café Clark promises to bring more than coffee to Southwest Detroit. It will bring a sense of place, connection and opportunity, serving as a testament to what happens when vision, hard work and community support come together.
Learn more at cafeclarkdetroit.com.