Detroit’s Rosa Café plans second location, to open this summer at shiny new high-rise

The future occupants of the Residences at Water Square near the Detroit Riverfront will have the luxury of having their own Rose Café & Market in their main lobby.

Owner Charity Dean opened the original Rose Café in Grandmont Rosedale in 2022. The cute and polished coffee shop and neighborhood gathering space pays tribute to Rosa Malone, Dean’s great-grandmother, one of the first Black homeowners to move into that neighborhood. This location recently started serving alcohol, offering mimosas, espresso martinis and other daytime cocktails.

Now, the second Rose Café is set to open this summer in a prime, 800-square-foot spot at Water Square at 222 Third in Detroit. It will serve Rosa’s signature house blend coffee plus grab-and-go snacks and other ready-to-eat food options. It will be open to the public as well as Water Square residents, and will have indoor and outdoor seating with a view.

“Our brand is deeply rooted in the community and honing on its authentic Detroit heritage, this new location allows us to continue our legacy while embracing fresh opportunities as a Black business located on the riverfront,” Dean said in a media alert about the expansion.

Located on the site of the former Joe Louis Arena, Residences at Water Square is a 496-unit, 25-story apartment building with views of Detroit and Canada. Detroit-based firm Sterling Group broke down on the property in early 2022.

“(Rosa’s) commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with the lifestyle experience we strive to offer our residents and visitors,” said Sterling Group’s CDO Danny Samson in a press release. “With its enticing market fare and inviting outdoor seating boasting picturesque riverfront view, Rosa Café & Market is poised to become a cherished destination within our vibrant neighborhood.”

The original Rosa, 19180 Grand River, is open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Fri., 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. Visit detroitrosa.com.

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