This project is FOR SW Detroit, FROM SW Detroit. 

We both grew up in SW Detroit, and now continue to live in our childhood neighborhood. As we’ve watched our beloved neighborhood change over the years, we recognize that there are many positive improvements that come with change. At the same time, we see that change in SW Detroit is going to happen, and not always, are people from this community represented in that change.

Through Cafe Clark, we are excited to bring back a third space that SW Detroit has long needed, since we lost Cafe Con Leche in 2016. We have fond memories with friends and family at Cafe Con Leche, and recognize how important this space was to us in our childhood and early adulthood. 

We started our coffee journey through Tuguava Coffee, a SW Detroit based ecommerce and wholesale coffee business, that we’ve been working on since 2021. We’ve built an intentional business model focusing on “Farm to Cup” sourcing with roasting at origin, working directly with coffee farmers in Guatemala and Mexico, and partnering with minority owned businesses in launching and expanding their coffee services. 

Meli has over twenty (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 thirteen (13) years of experience in operations and technology, working in global enterprise consulting, start-ups, non-profits (Association of Latino Professionals For America).

Together, through Cafe Clark, we will continue engaging with our community to provide a coffee shop and community space that can serve as a hub for our neighbors to connect.

Thank you to the SW Detroit community that has shaped who we are today, and helped us make this vision a reality.

Meli & Eduardo