The Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA) will soon complete the build out of a cooperative kitchen, cafe space, and community space within La Joya Gardens, a new mixed-use development project. This effort will be fulfilled through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the SDBA announced today, which is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.
If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $45,000 by March 28, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/cafeclark.
“La Joya Gardens and Café Clark will complete a welcoming and hyperlocal public space created by Detroit natives to meet community needs,” said MEDC Regional Prosperity Managing Director Paula Holtz. “We are pleased to support and provide resources for this project through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”
$45,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative
This campaign will allow SDBA to complete the community kitchen and community cafe, Café Clark.
Melisa Hernandez and Eduardo Salas
Café Clark will fill the need for a cafe that serves as a community gathering space and is the brainchild of lifelong locals Melisa Hernandez and Eduardo Salas. Café Clark will serve as a community space for residents of Southwest Detroit, providing traditional coffee menu items, offering breakfast and lunch items, as well as an expansive space where community residents can meet and connect. La Joya Gardens is excited to bring this community space, a coffee shop, and close a void felt when the area lost Cafe Con Leche, a neighborhood favorite coffee shop.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Public Spaces Community Places program, which will help bring the La Joya Gardens Community Space and Café Clark to life,” said Laura Chavez-Wazeerud-Din, President & CEO of Southwest Detroit Business Association. “The funds raised through this campaign, along with the MEDC’s matching grant, will help us create a space that fosters creativity, entrepreneurship, and community connection in Southwest Detroit. We look forward to launching this initiative and are thankful for MEDC’s continued dedication to revitalizing neighborhoods across Michigan.”
Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity, in which local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, nonprofits, and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan.
“Mixed-use developments like we’re seeing in the La Joya Gardens are a wonderful way to foster collaboration and connection within communities,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the Michigan Municipal League. “This project will create a versatile and dynamic ‘third space’ that will elevate the vibrancy and culture of Southwest Detroit.”
Help Us Reach Our Goal
We need to raise $45,000 to help cover project costs associated with building out the kitchen and cafe space, and furnishing the community space, which will be operated by Cafe Clark. This allows us to bring a space to SW Detroit that the community can be proud of. The following elements will be completed with this campaign:
• Sectional Seating, Coffee Bistro Tables, Chairs, and Plants: Funds from this campaign will be used for purchasing furniture for the community lounge area, including sectionals, coffee tables, bistro tables, chairs, and a longer tall table-top with outlets, intended for working remote.
• Plumbing for Kitchen and Cafe Space: Funds from this campaign will also go towards building out the plumbing in the kitchen and cafe space, to support a three-compartment sink, hand wash sinks, and grease traps.
• Electrical & Outlets: Funds from this campaign will go towards costs associated with electrical needs for the kitchen and cafe.
• Flooring, Wall Paneling, and Ceiling
• Estimated Additional Project Contractor Costs: These are the estimated labor costs associated with performing all of the above project buildout items for the kitchen and cafe
Your support will help us transform this space into a thriving hub that benefits everyone in the community.
More about Cafe Clark, Meli, and Eduardo
Both Meli and Eduardo are longtime residents of SW Detroit, having grown up near Clark Park, and attended all of grade school in Detroit. The two of them will champion Cafe Clark and are very familiar with the area, what it was and how it’s changed, and with that are excited to have the opportunity to bring a new coffee shop to their childhood neighborhood and home.
Cafe Clark will offer a traditional coffee menu, and draw inspiration from Meli and Eduardo’s Mexican background. The cafe will also offer light breakfast items, along with a lunch menu, offering snacks, salads, and sandwiches, as well as popular items from other local businesses.
The cafe aims to serve local residents throughout SW Detroit, and also host programming in partnership with SDBA, local artists, businesses, and organizations offering local resources.
Meli has over 20 years of experience working in the food service industry, having worked in her family’s Mexican restaurant, Plaza Mexico, and now managing it alongside her family. Eduardo has over 13 years of experience in operations and technology, working in global enterprise consulting, start-ups, non-profits (Association of Latino Professionals For America), and along the way exploring a coffee venture with Tuguava Coffee.
Through Cafe Clark, Meli and Eduardo plan to continue engaging with their community, and providing a space that can serve as a hub for others to connect, and alongside SDBA encourage and develop new entrepreneurs from SW Detroit.
The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of January 21, 2025, MEDC has provided more than $13.6 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 397 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with more than $15.4 million raised from 73,843 individual donors. Communities have a 97 percent success rate in achieving their goals and earning matching funds.
About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
