Michigan Central, a 30-acre technology and cultural hub in Detroit, has announced Yellow Light Coffee & Donuts — a locally owned establishment on the city’s east side — will open in the restored train station’s historic retail arcade later this year.
The coffee shop will be the first food-and-beverage tenant in The Station since the building’s closure in 1988. It will be located immediately off the east entrance, and offer take-out and dine-in options daily, with more information on hours to come.
Yellow Light opened as a drive-thru in 2020 in Detroit’s Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood. It was co-founded by In-Laws Hospitality owners Christine and Jacques Driscoll, and outside partner Niko Dimitrijevic, and is the sister restaurant of the Driscolls’ other city dining institutions, Green Dot Stables and Johnny Noodle King.
“Offering our in-house roasted coffee, scratch-made doughnuts, and biscuit sandwiches to Corktown and Southwest is beyond exciting for our growth in Detroit,” says Christine Driscoll. “We’re also humbled that we will be part of this newest chapter in The Station’s history starting this fall.”
The coffee shop is hiring for The Station location, and interested applicants can send their resume to hr@inlawshospitality.com.
In addition to Yellow Light Coffee & Donuts, Michigan Central’s 30-acre campus will accommodate larger tenants and established companies, attract and retain technology talent, and draw in diverse businesses.
Its first tenants, Detroit youth in Google’s Code Next program, already have moved into their offices on The Station’s fifth floor.
The program helps Detroit high school students pursue careers in tech and will help develop a pipeline of diverse talent for Michigan tech startups and established companies alike. Ford Motor Co. employees are up next to begin moving into three floors of The Station this fall.
Following a summer celebration that saw 167,000 visitors enjoy free self-guided tours of the revitalized Michigan Central Station, new guided tours are being offered in partnership with Detroit History Tours, which is based in Hamtramck.
Experts will offer inside anecdotes from the building’s restoration and guide visitors through the ground floor, including areas not accessible to the general public. Personal photography is welcomed.
“Detroit History Tours is honored to be powering tours of The Station,” says Owner Bailey Sisoy-Moore. “From The Station’s legendary past to its exciting future, we are excited to share this landmark’s story with the world.”
Unlike the tours over the summer, tickets will be required for the experience. Options are available for not only individuals but private tours for larger groups. More information, including accessibility, pricing, hours, parking, and photography policies, is available at michigancentral.com/visit.
For more information on The Station’s history, restoration, and next chapter, click here.
