New coffee and donut shop marks a new era for Detroit’s iconic Michigan Central Station

Yellow Light Coffee & Donuts opened in the historic Michigan Central Station in Detroit. Credit: Courtesy of Robar PR

Detroit’s historic Michigan Central Station, an emblem of the city’s resurgence efforts, welcomed its first food-and-beverage tenant in decades Friday with the grand opening of Yellow Light Coffee & Donuts.

Located on the first floor of the once-abandoned train station, Yellow Light offers handcrafted donuts, house-roasted coffee, and biscuit sandwiches in a space that seamlessly blends modern design with the station’s storied architecture.

This marks a significant milestone for Michigan Central Station, which had stood vacant since closing in 1988 before its transformation into a hub for innovation and community gathering.

Yellow Light Coffee & Donuts is operated by InLaws Hospitality, the Detroit-based group behind local favorites Green Dot Stables, Johnny Noodle King, and Blitzen’s on Bagley.

This is the second location for Yellow Light, which first launched as a drive-thru spot on Detroit’s east side in the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood.

Instead of a traditional ribbon-cutting, the grand opening featured a playful twist: Local leaders and the restaurant’s owners ceremonially sliced through a string of donuts to mark the occasion.

The addition of Yellow Light underscores the broader revitalization of Michigan Central Station, which is being reimagined as a vibrant destination for both locals and visitors. The space is part of Ford Motor Co.’s ambitious redevelopment of the station and surrounding Corktown neighborhood into a center for mobility and innovation.