Cass Café · Investor Package · Section 4
Phased
Opening
Plan
Opening
Plan
Revenue from Occupancy · August 2026 through Full Launch November 6
Cass Café does not wait for full food service to open. From the date of occupancy through November 5, every event is ticketed, private, or invite-only — tasting events, investor briefings, member gatherings, VIP galas, gallery openings, Pancakes with Puppets. On November 6, 2026, the doors open to the public: Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM, full food and beverage service. This is a phased opening — not a delayed one.
Investor Package · Working Draft · Cass Café, Inc.
Revenue from the Week of Occupancy
From the week of August occupancy, Cass Café is generating revenue — through private event rentals, VIP and investor galas, tasting events, and gallery exhibitions. Full food service requires additional development time — staff training, recipe testing with Marianne Audrey Burrows and Regan Rodriguez, supply chain relationships, and operational systems. The Michigan liquor license transfer will take 3–6 months; during that window, the Chalfonte Foundation and PuppetART each hold up to 12 nonprofit 24-hour temporary licenses per year, and a WDET benefit event is planned on their license — providing covered alcohol service for early events while the full license transfers. This phased approach is not a compromise — it is the financially responsible path to a sustainable full launch.
What We Have at Closing
Full Michigan liquor license · Certificate of occupancy and compliance · Commercial property and liability insurance · Liquor liability coverage · POS system · 300-person standing capacity · 120-person seated capacity · Full bar equipment · Two gallery spaces (Westside and Eastside) · Wayne State University neighborhood location · The Cass Café name and 30-year community legacy
What Needs Development
Full kitchen staff hired and trained · Recipe testing and standardization with Marianne and the executive chef · Supply chain relationships with Detroit urban farms, Shepherdswork, and regional distributors · Day service staffing and scheduling · Juice bar operation and protocols · Full menu finalization with Mikael · Health department inspection for full food service
1
Phase One · Immediate Revenue
VIP Galas · Tasting Events · Private Events
August — September 2026
VIP and member galas build anticipation and test food service concepts. Tasting events let staff and investors experience the menu in development. Private event rentals begin generating immediate revenue. Alcohol service runs on Chalfonte Foundation and PuppetART nonprofit 24-hour licenses while the full MLCC license transfer is in process.
Signature EventsThree Galas · Exclusive · Building Anticipation
August 2026
Week 1–2
Week 1–2
Advisory Board & Investor Gala — VIP Preview
The first event in the reopened Cass Café. By invitation only — advisory board members, current investors, and prospective investors. Alcohol service on Chalfonte Foundation nonprofit 24-hour license. Food service and menu concepts tested and presented by Marianne Audrey Burrows and the kitchen team as an operational trial for VIP guests. Detroit contemporary exhibition on the walls. Live music. This is the first look at what Cass Café is becoming.
Doubles as a training operation — food and service concept tested in a controlled, high-stakes environment. Feedback directly informs the menu and service design.
August 2026
Week 3–4
Week 3–4
Members Gala — detroit contemporary & Chalfonte Foundation
100+ members of detroit contemporary and the Chalfonte Foundation invited to the reopening celebration. Alcohol service on nonprofit 24-hour license. Expanded food and tasting trial — a second operational test with a larger audience and more complex service demands. Live music. Art on the walls. Members receive first access to the exhibition calendar and programming schedule.
The members gala is both a fundraising event and a community reactivation. The 30-year Cass Café community reconvenes for the first time since the 2022 closure.
August 2026
Summer Salon — Public Opening · Reservations Required · $5 Service Fee
The first public event at the reopened Cass Café. The Summer Salon — a group exhibition presented by detroit contemporary — opens to the public with reservations required and a $5 service fee per guest. Managing demand is essential: the reopening of Cass Café after more than three years will be a major Detroit cultural story. The reservation system allows us to control capacity, test service, and build a list of engaged community members for the full launch.
The $5 service fee is not a cover charge — it is a reservation commitment that ensures genuine interest and manageable attendance. Proceeds support the Foundation's programming fund. The Summer Salon is a one-time inaugural event — the regular annual cycle of Members' Spring Salon in May begins in May 2027.
Tasting EventsMenu Development · Staff Training · Early Revenue
Aug–Oct
Rotating
Rotating
Two-Phase Tasting Program
Early tasting events use a strolling dinner format — guests circulate through the space sampling menu items being developed, providing structured feedback that directly shapes final menu decisions. Later tasting events are ticketed, with each guest receiving a food and beverage credit and ordering at the counter — staff practice receiving orders, processing payment, assembling, and serving in real conditions that simulate the full public restaurant experience. Events are ticketed or invite-only; no walk-in access until November 6.
Both phases generate revenue while building the menu and the team simultaneously. Alcohol service on Chalfonte Foundation and PuppetART nonprofit 24-hour licenses during the MLCC transfer period.
RE
Phase One Revenue Stream · Immediate
Private Event Rentals
Available from occupancy · Ongoing through all phases
A 300-person standing capacity space in the Cass Corridor with a full liquor license, two gallery spaces, a stage, and the Cass Café name. The private event market is immediately accessible. Promotional materials available to all event guests.
The Opportunity
Detroit's private event market includes venues charging $1,500–$5,000 venue fees plus food and beverage minimums of $3,000–$10,000 for comparable spaces. Cass Café's combination of historic cultural significance, gallery-quality exhibition space, Cass Corridor location, full liquor license, and 300-person capacity places it in direct competition with The Whitney, Oak & Reel, Mad Nice, and other premium Detroit event venues — with the additional advantage of a 30-year community legacy and the authenticity of an arts-and-culture institution. Every private event guest receives promotional materials about Cass Café's programming, membership, and full launch — turning event rentals into a marketing channel as well as a revenue stream.
Event Rental Packages
Working Pricing · Subject to Final Review by Restaurant Management
Full Buyout
The Full Cass
Up to 300 standing · 120 seated
Complete buyout of the entire space — both gallery floors, the full bar, the stage, and the outdoor patio. Ideal for weddings, large corporate galas, full reception buyouts, and major private events. Detroit contemporary exhibitions on every wall included.
Venue fee: $1,500–$2,500 · F&B minimum: $3,000–$5,000
Peak dates (Fri–Sat, Nov–Dec) at upper range
Peak dates (Fri–Sat, Nov–Dec) at upper range
Balcony & Second Floor
The Balcony
30–50 guests
Semi-private second-floor balcony event while ground floor remains available for other use. Ideal for corporate mixers, rehearsal dinners, intimate birthday celebrations, and smaller receptions. Private feel with full bar service.
Venue fee: $500–$800 · F&B minimum: $1,500–$2,500
Gallery Floor
The Gallery Floor
Up to 80 seated · 120 standing
Ground floor only — exhibition space, bar, and seating. Ideal for mid-sized seated dinners, corporate presentations, art receptions, film screenings, community gatherings, and daytime meetings. Ground-floor accessibility for all guests.
Venue fee: $600–$1,000 · F&B minimum: $1,500–$2,500
Bar Only
Bar Buy-In
Up to 50 guests
Cash bar event — no catering required. Ideal for meetings, community gatherings, small celebrations, and low-key events. Full bar service. Salty snacks from the bar menu.
Venue fee: $200–$400 · Bar minimum: $500
Catered Event
Full Catering Package
Any capacity
Full Cass Café catering — kitchen team, service staff, menu selection from the Two Moons recipe tradition. Available for any event package. Adds kitchen labor to the event cost. Vegan-forward menu with animal protein options at no upcharge. Available once kitchen staff are trained — anticipated September 2026.
Catering fee: Quoted per event + standard package fees above
Special Occasions
Life Events
Any capacity
Weddings, wedding receptions, funerals and memorial services, rehearsal dinners, bar and bat mitzvahs, quinceañeras, baby showers, retirement parties. Any of the above packages with customized arrangements. The Cass Café has held community for thirty years — it is the right place for the moments that matter.
Pricing: Standard package rates apply · Custom arrangements quoted
Event Type DirectoryThe Full Range of What Cass Café Can Host
Wedding Reception
Wedding Ceremony
Corporate Gala
Corporate Dinner
Board Meeting
Product Launch
Fundraiser
Birthday Party
Milestone Celebration
Baby Shower
Retirement Party
Rehearsal Dinner
Memorial Service
Funeral Reception
Art Opening
Private Concert
Film Screening
Book Launch
Community Meeting
Alumni Gathering
Bar / Bat Mitzvah
Quinceañera
Class Reunion
Holiday Party
Wayne State Event
Pop-Up Dinner
Tasting Event
Workshop
Promotional Materials at Every Private Event
Every private event at Cass Café includes promotional materials for guests — the full programming calendar, membership information for detroit contemporary and the Chalfonte Foundation, the exhibition schedule through 2027, and information about the full launch in November 2026. Private event guests become the most natural pipeline for new members, regular patrons, and future event bookings. The venue rental program is a revenue stream and a marketing channel simultaneously.
Legal & Insurance Foundation
Specialized event rental contract — non-refundable deposit schedule, cancellation timelines, guaranteed headcounts, property damage liability. Liquor liability and general event rider on commercial insurance policy. AV infrastructure: wireless microphone system, projection capability for corporate events, up-lighting for atmosphere control. All in place before first rental booking.
Marketing & Discovery
Dedicated Private Events section on the Cass Café website with inquiry form. Listed on The Knot (weddings) and Peerspace (corporate). Professional photoshoot staged for wedding reception and corporate cocktail hour formats. Downloadable digital event kit with floor plans, sample menus, bar packages, and transparent pricing. Social media presence for the event program beginning immediately at occupancy.
2
Phase Two · Exhibition Season & Family Programming
Galleries Open · Pancakes with Puppets · Bar Continues
September — October 2026
September marks the beginning of the Detroit arts season. The Westside and Eastside Galleries open with solo exhibitions presented by detroit contemporary. Pancakes with Puppets launches — ticketed, advance sales only. Tasting events continue. Private events continue. Full food service and the complete kitchen team are being finalized for the November 6 launch.
September
First Saturday
First Saturday
Exhibition Season Opens — Westside & Eastside Galleries
The first solo exhibitions of the season open in both galleries on the first Saturday of September. Standard gallery reception — full bar, no full food service yet (bar snacks available). detroit contemporary curates both shows. Art on the walls for the first time since 2022. The standard monthly rhythm begins: new shows every first Saturday, receptions 5–6 PM VIP preview and 6–10 PM public.
Two galleries: Westside Gallery in the front of the café — the bar and juice area side. Eastside Gallery in the back, the larger dining area.
September
Saturdays
Saturdays
Pancakes with Puppets — Family Brunch Launches
PuppetART's Saturday morning brunch program launches after puppeteers are trained and tickets are promoted and sold in advance. Buckwheat (GF) and whole wheat pancakes, brunch menu, full bar including mimosas. Puppet host works the room during brunch, cast interviews before the show, one full PuppetART performance. Tickets sold in advance — capacity managed from the first event.
Pancakes with Puppets launching before full food service is feasible because the brunch menu is simple and prep-heavy — it does not require the full kitchen operation that Mon–Fri counter service requires.
Why September for Exhibitions
September is the traditional start of the Detroit arts season — galleries, museums, and cultural institutions reset their programming after the summer. Opening the Cass Café galleries in September positions the space within the broader arts-season rhythm, ensuring the opening is part of a larger cultural moment rather than isolated. The Westside and Eastside Galleries operating simultaneously means two new shows open every month — twice the openings, twice the press, twice the foot traffic through the bar.
Exhibition Calendar 2026–2027detroit contemporary · Westside & Eastside Galleries · First Saturday Openings
The Exhibition Program
All exhibitions are presented by detroit contemporary — founded by Aaron Timlin in 1998. Two simultaneous exhibitions each month: one in the Westside Gallery (front of the café, bar and juice area) and one in the Eastside Gallery (back, larger dining area). New shows open on the first Saturday of each month. A different curator serves each year as annual director of the exhibition program — responsible for selecting artists and producing receptions. May is always the Members' Spring Salon (beginning May 2027 — the first regular annual cycle). December in even-numbered years is the Winter Salon (2026, 2028, 2030); December in odd-numbered years is the Actual Size Biennial (2027, 2029, 2031). Artists listed as TBC are confirmed by the annual curator — final names to be announced.
2026 — Year One
September 2026 · First Saturday
Westside Gallery
Eastside Gallery
Westside: TBC — Detroit artist, solo exhibition
Eastside: TBC — Detroit artist, solo exhibition
Opening reception: ticketed or reservation-based · 5–6 PM VIP preview · 6–10 PM public · Galleries open to patrons during Mon–Fri 7am–7pm public hours from November 6 onward
October 2026 · First Saturday
Westside Gallery
Eastside Gallery
Westside: TBC — Michigan artist, solo exhibition
Eastside: TBC — Detroit artist, solo exhibition
Opening reception: 5–6 PM VIP · 6–10 PM public · Full food service launches November — October reception is bar and light fare
November 2026 · First Saturday
Westside Gallery
Eastside Gallery
Westside: TBC — Detroit artist, solo exhibition
Eastside: TBC — Michigan artist, solo exhibition
Full food service now active · First exhibition opening with complete Cass Café food and beverage program · First Saturday Dinner Concert follows this month
December 2026 · First Saturday
detroit contemporary
Winter Salon
Both galleries + throughout: Winter Salon — Group exhibition curated by the annual director. 2026 is an even-numbered year — the Winter Salon alternates with the Actual Size Biennial, which runs in odd-numbered years (2027, 2029, 2031). Coordinated with the Winter Salon at La Rose House.
December 2026 is an even-numbered year — Winter Salon · Coordinated with La Rose House · Opening reception: 5–6 PM VIP · 6–10 PM public
2027 — Year Two · Full Programming Year
January 2027 · First Saturday
Westside Gallery
Eastside Gallery
Westside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
Eastside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
February 2027 · First Saturday
Westside Gallery
Eastside Gallery
Westside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
Eastside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
March 2027 · First Saturday
Westside Gallery
Eastside Gallery
Westside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
Eastside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
April 2027 · First Saturday
Westside Gallery
Eastside Gallery
Westside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
Eastside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
May 2027 · First Saturday
Annual · Both Galleries
Members' Spring Salon
Annual juried exhibition — open to all members of detroit contemporary. Visual art, photography, textile, ceramics, writing, and music recordings. Simultaneous with the Members' Spring Salon at La Rose House.
Every May · Both Westside and Eastside Galleries · Coordinated with La Rose House Spring Salon · VIP preview 5–6 PM · Public 6–10 PM
June 2027 · First Saturday
Westside Gallery
Eastside Gallery
Westside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
Eastside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
July 2027 · First Saturday
Westside Gallery
Eastside Gallery
Westside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
Eastside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
August 2027 · First Saturday
Westside Gallery
Eastside Gallery
Westside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
Eastside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
September 2027 · First Saturday
Westside Gallery
Eastside Gallery
Westside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
Eastside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
One year since the first exhibition opened · September 2027 marks the anniversary of exhibition programming at the reopened Cass Café
October 2027 · First Saturday
Westside Gallery
Eastside Gallery
Westside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
Eastside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
November 2027 · First Saturday
Westside Gallery
Eastside Gallery
Westside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
Eastside: TBC — Artist name, exhibition title
December 2027 · First Saturday
detroit contemporary
Actual Size Biennial
Both galleries + throughout: Actual Size Biennial — detroit contemporary's signature biennial, first exhibited at the Traffic Jam & Snug in 1999. Returns to Cass Café — a venue in the 2001 Biennial. 2027 is an odd-numbered year — Actual Size Biennial runs 2027, 2029, 2031. Winter Salon runs 2026, 2028, 2030. Coordinated with La Rose House and partner venues.
December 2027 is an odd-numbered year — Actual Size Biennial · Multi-venue with La Rose House and partner galleries · Opening reception: 5–6 PM VIP · 6–10 PM public
3
Phase Three · Full Food & Beverage Launch
Full Service Opens — The Cass Café Is Back
November 2026
Full public food and beverage service launches November 6, 2026 — Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM. The juice bar opens with the kitchen. Evening and weekend events continue on a ticketed, private, or invite-only basis, posted when scheduled. The doors are open to the public for the first time since July 2022.
November
2026
2026
Full Food & Beverage Service Launches
Complete counter service, Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM. Three anchor soups, three anchor salads, three anchor sandwiches and wraps, grain and pasta bowls, Two Moons' complete menu from Peace in Every Bite and the Vegan Survival Manual & Recipe Book. Juice bar 7 AM to 7 PM. Bar open during public hours; bar also available for any evening or weekend event that is ticketed, private, or invite-only. All staff trained and in place.
The full launch is timed to the November exhibition opening — the first First Saturday with complete food and beverage service coincides with the new exhibition reception.
November
2026
2026
Full Weekly Programming Begins
Evening and weekend events — DJ nights, dinner concerts, community programs, health and healing gatherings — scheduled individually and posted when confirmed. Each event is ticketed or reservation-based. Village Radio Detroit broadcasting from the Annex studio. Funk Night (the all-vinyl funk and soul event Aaron Timlin co-founded at detroit contemporary in 1999 with Scott Craig and Brad Hales) is a natural future event for Cass Café, to be scheduled when the time is right.
All evening events end by 11 PM or midnight. Special exceptions may extend to 2 AM on a case-by-case basis.
4
Phase Four · Full Operations · December 2026 Onward
The Complete Cass Café
December 2026 and beyond
All revenue streams active simultaneously. Full food service, full exhibition program, private and ticketed event programming, membership program, Village Radio Detroit, Pancakes with Puppets, Dinner Concerts, and the Winter Salon in December 2026. Evening and weekend events scheduled individually as the program develops.
Bar Revenue
Mon–Fri 7 AM – 7 PM during public hours. Bar also available for any ticketed, private, or invite-only evening or weekend event. Michigan craft beer, wine, spirits, fresh-juice cocktails, mocktails.
Active from Phase 1
Private Event Rentals
Full buyout ($1,500–$2,500 + F&B min), balcony ($500–$800), gallery floor ($600–$1,000), bar buy-in ($200–$400). All formats continue in Phase 4 alongside full food service.
Active from Phase 1
Food Service
Mon–Fri counter service, 7 AM – 7 PM. Three anchors per category. Two Moons' complete menu. Juice bar 7 AM – 7 PM.
Active from Phase 3 · November 2026
Ticketed Events
Saturday Dinner Concerts (ticketed, meal included). Pancakes with Puppets (advance ticket sales). Additional evening and weekend events scheduled individually and posted when confirmed.
Dinner Concerts from Phase 3 · Puppets from Phase 2
Membership Program
detroit contemporary memberships ($12–$250+). Chalfonte Foundation memberships. Cass Café Friend, Sustainer, Producer, Owner Member tiers. Recurring revenue.
Active from Phase 1 · Galas are membership drives
Pop-Up Revenue Share
Saturday Dinner Concert pop-up organizers pay 10% of gross food revenue + $100 space rental. Monthly recurring revenue from the pop-up program with zero kitchen labor cost to Cass.
Active from Phase 3
The Investor Takeaway
Cass Café generates revenue from the week of August occupancy — not from the day full food service launches. The pre-opening period (occupancy through November 5) is not a period of fixed costs with no income, but a period of growing revenue from private events, ticketed programming, investor and membership tasting events, and gallery exhibitions. By November 6, 2026, when full public food service launches Monday through Friday 7 AM to 7 PM, Cass Café has tested operations with real guests, built a committed membership and investor base, and created a community that has been anticipating this moment. The full launch is not a cold start. It is a homecoming the city has been waiting three years for — and which we have spent the preceding months making ready.