It started as a casual conversation at her neighborhood corner store. Eliza McKay was at Marcus Market, chit-chatting with someone there over the counter. She mentioned that they should think about selling coffee at the market. They suggested that she could do it. So she did.
Eliza McKay now operates
D-cup Detroit out of Marcus Market, selling coffee and tea with an emphasis on local, organic, and fair trade products. The coffee comes from Righteous Bean, a coffee roasting company based out of suburban Center Line. The tea is courtesy of Eli Tea, another Michigan company that has made use of the
Detroit Kitchen Connect network of commercial kitchens.
McKay got into coffee culture while working at a coffee shop. She grew critical of some of the practices of that particular business, and D-cup is a way for McKay to do things her way. In the short time since opening, McKay has already been able to pay back a small loan she was given to start the business.
"It's been awesome. I really wanted to stop working for other people," says McKay. "It's rewarding to give people what they want, to provide something healthy and at a reasonable price."
She's been experimenting with different coffee and tea-based drinks, mixing the two together. Their most popular drink, says McKay, is cold-pressed coffee mixed with a chai tea.
D-cup Detroit is the second outside business to call Marcus Market home. Alley Taco opened
earlier this year. With the market providing opportunities for young entrepreneurs as well as recently undergoing a major improvement of its facade, the corner store has come a long way since
neighbors took it upon themselves to paint the building in 2007.
Source: Eliza McKay, owner of D-Cup Detroit
Writer: MJ Galbraith
Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.