- Craig’s Coffee manufactures and distributes high-quality, sustainably sourced coffee
- The roastery and cafe will offer space as a pop-up for local eateries and entrepreneurs
- Owner Craig Batory worked with Detroit-based contractors, suppliers and artists to build his business and brand
- Craig’s Coffee is a proud Motor City Match Round 20 award recipient
- Motor City Match has awarded $12.9M in cash grants; 81% of overall winners are minority-owned businesses and 70% are women-owned
SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 (DETROIT) – Craig’s Coffee, a Detroit coffee roastery and cafe in Midtown, celebrated its grand opening with Mayor Mike Duggan, City officials and community supporters today at their facility located at 412 Peterboro St. With an emphasis on product quality and sustainability, the establishment has set its sights on becoming a haven for coffee connoisseurs.
In 2014, California native and owner Craig Batory moved to Detroit with his partner after she enrolled in graduate school. While working as a freelance writer covering the coffee industry, Batory soon immersed himself in it firsthand. His solid foundation in coffee roasting, honed in his home state, coupled with his experience in digital marketing, positioned him for a dynamic entry into the industry.
In January 2020, Batory started roasting coffee beans in his basement. As the business grew, he expanded operations to a pop-up location at Coffeehaus in Detroit before landing in his current facility. Today, Craig’s Coffee features an array of international and locally sourced coffee beans from Brazil, Guatemala, Ethiopia and the Motor City. It also offers a variety of exotic loose-leaf teas and coffee-brewing products, all of which can be found in-store and online at www.craigs.coffee.
“My biggest priority is providing a good, delicious beverage for the customer that’s sourced sustainably,” said Batory, adding that he has direct relationships with the producers and farmers who grow his coffee beans.
Batory attributes a substantial portion of his achievements to the robust small business initiatives in Detroit, particularly the Motor City Match program. The program provided Batory with an $80,000 grant for building renovations and offered indispensable consultation services. These levels of support, he believes, would have been challenging to secure in his native California, serving as a testament to the thriving small business ecosystem Detroit has cultivated.
“I know for a fact it wouldn’t have been feasible because it’s way more expensive to start a business out there,” said Batory. “It just seemed it was a lot more opportunity, specifically in Detroit, for small businesses to grow.”
Craig’s Coffee intends to not only be a popular coffee spot, but also a community hub. Batory has plans to offer space for local businesses needing a place to kickstart their ventures. This gesture is his way of giving back, a nod to the opportunity he received at Coffeehaus.
“We’re so glad Motor City Match can support an entrepreneur like Craig, who has found opportunity here in Detroit and is going from roasting coffee beans in his basement to opening up a brick-and-mortar coffee shop,” said Duggan. “It’s clear Craig has developed a passion for the city and is committed to its people, as he plans to also use this space to help fellow Detroiters who have business ideas of their own.”
Botary contracted several Detroit suppliers and vendors to support his business. He hired Detroit-based construction firm, The Roy Company, to assist with the build-out of his space, partnered with Detroit artists for his custom coffee label designs and secured packaging from the Michigan Box Co. Botary adds that all packaging is eco-friendly and biodegradable, underscoring his commitment to sustainability.
“Craig’s Coffee embodies the essence of Detroit’s small business community — resilient, pioneering and deeply rooted in community values,” said Sean Gray, Vice President of Small Business Services at the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, which manages Motor City Match. “We know Craig’s will evolve into a dynamic hub for both coffee enthusiasts and entrepreneurs.”
Through 23 rounds of Motor City Match:
- Total cash grants: $12.9 million (Total leveraged investment: $68 million)
- 81 percent are minority-owned businesses
- 70 percent are women-owned businesses
- 66 percent are businesses owned by Detroit residents
About Motor City Match
Motor City Match is a unique partnership between the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit (EDC) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Competitive financial assistance is supported by a broad partnership of Southeast Michigan community development financial institutions and corporations including, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, Ford Foundation, Hudson Webber Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, New Economy Initiative, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Motor City Match applications are available quarterly. More information is available at www.MotorCityMatch.com