SHELBYVILLE, Mich. — Gun Lake Investments announced the opening of Sweetgrass Moon Cafe, a café that highlights Indigenous values and serves as a hub for community connection. The café opened to the public April 13 at 1148 129th Ave., in Shelbyville, across from Gun Lake Casino.
Sweetgrass Moon Cafe is a new concept under Gun Lake Investments. The café is housed in a modern modular building developed with BCubed Manufacturing, the same developer who helped Gun Lake Investments launch Hot ‘n Now last year. Inside is an intimate setting, while the inviting outdoor patio offers guests a comfortable space for morning coffee.
The café partners with One BIGG Island in Space, a farm-direct coffee provider committed to lasting relationships with growers. In an industry defined by distance and intermediaries, the OBIIS model offers a direct connection with coffee producers. Late last year, team members from Gun Lake Investments traveled to Chiapas, Mexico, to meet local indigenous Mayan coffee farmers and experience the culture, tradition, and care behind coffee farming, harvesting, and processing.
“Traveling to Chiapas, Mexico, and meeting the growers in person was so impactful,” said Monica King, CEO of Gun Lake Investments. “You see firsthand that many of these hard-working farmers operate with very limited resources to support their families and preserve traditions passed down for generations. At the same time, you clearly understand the impact of being taken advantage of for decades and decades by layers of intermediaries in the traditional supply chain. That experience changed how we think about coffee. It’s not just about what we’re serving, it’s about who we’re connected to and what we stand for. And being able to bring that story, that respect for the food and the process, back home to Sweetgrass Moon Cafe is something that we are really proud of and most certainly aligns with our culture and values.”
The menu offers coffee drinks, bakery items, and entrées, all inspired by traditional Indigenous ingredients and foodways. The Three Sisters crops (corn, beans, and squash) will influence menu elements through a seasonal menu. The aim is to deliver a familiar yet meaningful experience by blending modern café staples with Indigenous cultural connections. Hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Learn more at https://sweetgrassmooncafe.com/
