Cass Café opened in 1993 and ran for nearly thirty years as one of the most important gathering places in Detroit — artists, musicians, activists, and the quietly brilliant finding each other over lentil soup and cheap beer, in front of real exhibitions on the walls. Not decoration. Art that people came specifically to see.
It closed in July 2022. The Chalfonte Foundation is bringing it back — same address, same name, same spirit — as a fully operating restaurant, gallery, performance space, and community institution. November 6, 2026 is opening day.
Cass Café, Inc. is the operating company — restaurant, bar, juice bar, and food and beverage for all events. Open to the public Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM. Led by Aaron Timlin, President & COO, with extensive restaurant management experience.
The Chalfonte Foundation — a Michigan 501(c)(3) — owns the building and holds Common Stock with majority voting control. Investors receive Preferred Stock in Cass Café, Inc. — senior to the Foundation in any distribution or liquidation event. The $25/share Founding Round price is consistent with the $1,200,000 valuation established by Shareholder Resolution across 48,000 outstanding shares, and above the $24.14/share price at which the Foundation previously acquired its Common Stock. Modeled on the Kresge Court at the DIA.
- $10,000 minimum · 400 shares at $25
- Preferred Stock shareholder immediately
- Senior to Foundation in any liquidation
- One shared board seat across all Preferred shareholders
- No dividends for first five years
- $10,000 minimum · note at 3.5–4.5% compound interest
- Interest reinvested annually — not paid out
- Creditor status until conversion — senior to all shareholders in dissolution
- Annual conversion window at each year-end, once trigger is met
- Conversion trigger: 3 consecutive years of positive net income
Aaron Timlin — Chair & CEO, Cass Café, Inc. President, Chalfonte Foundation. Founder, detroit contemporary (1998). Founder, Cass Café Cultural Center. Interim Director, PuppetART.
Aaron Timlin — President & COO, Cass Café, Inc. Restaurant operations and food & beverage management.
Marianne Audrey Burrows — Menu & Recipe Development Consultant.
Marianne Audrey Burrows — Kitchen Manager.
4620 Cass Avenue — the same address where Cass Café has operated since 1993. Two galleries (Westside and Eastside), a performance stage, a full bar, a juice bar, a kitchen, a PuppetART performance program, and a Village Radio Detroit broadcast studio.
Purchased by the Chalfonte Foundation via land contract. Property tax exemption applied for based on multi-organization charitable use. Full liquor license, certificate of occupancy, 300-person standing capacity.