An Ann Arbor institution is making a foray into another college town, Ypsilanti.
Sweetwaters will be opening its newest coffee and tea shop at 735 W. Cross St., behind the Water Tower landmark, likely by early February, according to co-owner Lisa Bee. She hopes to have an opening celebration to coincide with the Chinese New Year.
A coffee bar and new seating, flooring, and lighting are being installed. "We try to make every store a little bit different, and this one is going to have a fun kind of rustic modern industrial feel," Bee says, adding, "There'll be more rustic woods in there and some metals."
Exposed pipes and old barn wood are part of the décor in the 1,500 sq. ft. café, which will seat about 30 people. Fifteen employees will staff the new shop.
"We like the EMU campus," says Bee. "There seems to be a nice concentration of students, as well as the location that we're in is also close to residential, so we like that mix."
Source: Lisa Bee, co-owner of Sweetwaters
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
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