Mercury Coffee Bar finally opens in Corktown

Way back in the summer of 2005, the very first issue of Model D proclaimed that the Mercury Bar in Corktown would open that fall.

Like many things in development, that date turned out to be a moving target.

But never fear, an ownership and concept overhaul -- and three years -- changes everything, and the Mercury Coffee Bar has really and truly opened.

The focus of the first floor -- aside from the bright decor (think cyan, magenta and yellow, the colors your laser printer spits out on a test page) -- are the windows that look upon the Michigan Central Station. The view is a big part of what made owner Todd Wickstrom "fall in love with the place," he says.

Wickstrom first became interested in investing in Detroit after spending time studying food issues in the city through his participation in the state's Food Policy Task Force. He decided to put together an investment group that would use food to drive economic development.

After considering a food processing plant and a grocery store, the team settled on a neighborhood restaurant. "We decided the best way was to create a restaurant experience that people would come to, to create jobs, so that people could feel a part of what we were doing," he says.

Mercury Coffee Bar serves wholesome, healthy fare and Inteligentsia Coffee. The full-service basement dining room seats 50 and the ground-floor quick service hold another 15 to 20 at a few tables and a standing rail.

The Mercury Coffee Bar will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 313-496-4000. Watch Model D TV's sneak peak here.

Source: Todd Wickstrom, Mercury Coffee Bar
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh