Café Liv opens in former car repair shop in Ypsilanti

YPSILANTI, MI – William Sloan says the Ypsilanti community has embraced his new cafe – even though there was no grand opening.

“It’s sort of organic growth, which was kind of my hope,” Sloan said.

Sloan launched Café Liv, 202 N. Washington St., Ypsilanti, in mid-July. The location previously housed A1 Quality Transmission & Auto Repair.

Café Liv serves what Sloan called a “basic espresso menu,” including coffee drinks like macchiatos, cortado, drip coffee, cold brew, and pour over coffee. Syrups available include lavender, vanilla, caramel, rose and pistachio.

The cafe also offers specialty drinks, including the Liv Latte, which contains lavender and rose and is named after Sloan’s daughter, Olivia. The Chloe latte, made with pistachio and rose syrup, is named after Sloan’s friend and local dance studio owner Chloe Antoun.

“She came in one day and just said, ‘Bill, do you have pistachio syrup? And then I didn’t,'” Sloan said. she told me it was pistachio and rose. So I put on the menu and now it’s The Chloe.

Community participation was the highlight of the opening, Sloan said.

“I thought maybe I should rename the cafe or maybe I should have named it Intersection Coffee,” Sloan said. “I’m at the intersection of Washtenaw in northern Washington, but it’s also the intersection of different ideas, beliefs, people, and backgrounds.”

Café Liv also offers pastries from local companies such as Bird Dog Bakery and Milk + Honey.

“That’s kind of how I wanted it to work, just a place where people can come in and relax, have a nice cup of coffee and talk with each other,” Sloan said. “It seems like people are reacting to that.”

Café Liv, 202 N. Washington St., Ypsilanti, is closed on weekends but will reopen August 8. It is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Find the cafe online or on social media.

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