A chalkboard reading, "I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring," has been sitting in the window of the downtown Ypsilanti storefront at 206 W. Michigan Ave. for months as its owners have worked to set up their hybrid cafe, bar, and performance venue.

The David Bowie quote is an apt sentiment for Ziggy's ahead of its soft opening on Aug. 4 to coincide with First Fridays Ypsilanti. Some behind-the-scenes work still needs to be done on the business' bar and venue side, but Ziggy's doors will be open Friday evening so visitors can see how the space has transformed and get a taste of what the cafe portion will be like.

Ziggy's owners David and Jo Jeffries and cafe manager Kristina Ouellette are eager to finally be able to offer a new space for people to hang out while listening to live music and enjoying a caffeinated or alcoholic beverage and a bite to eat. The trio is still working on getting a liquor license and finalizing the menu, so for now Ziggy's will only offer light food and coffee drinks made with Hyperion Coffee Company beans, but it will still stay open later than a traditional cafe.

"I want [it to be] a cute place where you can take your friends, or take a date, or take your parents even," Ouellette says. "Just a new, cool place to go."

The driving force behind Ziggy's was David Jeffries' longtime dream of owning a venue where he could regularly host concerts in an effort to support local musicians, especially those who have an alternative sound. He hopes to eventually book about five performances per week once Ziggy's has its liquor license.

David Jeffries says he chose to name his business Ziggy's in honor of David Bowie because Bowie has always been his "gateway drug into the avant-garde and more left field of music."

Ziggy's interior vibe screams video game culture, with its colorful decor, comic book-inspired artwork, and arcade games – including Pachinko machines from David Jeffries' personal collection – on display throughout the space. The games won't be the focus of Ziggy's, but they'll be "part of the fun," says Jo Jeffries.

The trio plans to host a proper grand opening in the coming weeks.

"It takes a lot of organization to rock 'n' roll," David Jeffries says.