Grand Rapids residents in the northeast side community will see a new, Indigenous-owned coffee shop before the end of the year when Abo Coffee Company converts two vacant storefronts at 1801 and 1803 Plainfield Ave. NE into a single, roughly 3,200-square-foot space. The business is owned by Rohmell Matthews and his wife, Madeline Haadsma.
From pop-ups and powwows to a permanent storefront
Matthews, a tribal member of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi (Gun Lake Tribe), began serving coffee more publicly this spring after launching a coffee cart in April 2026. The couple has been operating at pop-up events around Grand Rapids and collaborating with other small businesses while preparing the Plainfield Avenue site for full build-out.
The Abo Coffee cart offers an espresso-based menu that includes lattes, hot and iced cappuccinos, cortados, black filter coffee, cold brew, iced coffee, chai and matcha lattes, herbal teas and seasonal beverages. Those menu items will form the core of the menu when the brick-and-mortar opens.
Neighborhood context and space details
The location sits on a corner and currently consists of two adjacent addresses separated by an old door frame; the owners plan to combine them into one contiguous shop. Above the ground-floor commercial space is a studio apartment that is already occupied, and a cleaning business also operates from the building. The owners described the storefront project as a work in progress as they finalize renovations and layout.
“It was a very natural finding that resonated with me, and I just continued to pursue it and see what new doors it would open,”
Matthews has said the idea grew in part from a long-standing observation at cultural gatherings. He noticed that while powwows and other events commonly feature traditional foods and vendors, a consistent, intentional coffee presence was often missing.
What this means for the community
For residents of Grand Rapids, the arrival of Abo Coffee Company represents another neighborhood-owned small business adding to Plainfield Avenue’s commercial mix. The move from a cart to a 3,200-square-foot storefront signals job potential, more regular hours of operation for customers, and a new gathering place on the northeast side.
- Address: 1801–1803 Plainfield Ave. NE
- Owners: Rohmell Matthews and Madeline Haadsma
- Tribally affiliated: Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi (Gun Lake Tribe)
- Cart launched: April 2026
- Space size: Approximately 3,200 sq. ft.
The presence of an Indigenous-owned business contributes to the city’s cultural and commercial diversity. While Matthews and Haadsma have not announced an exact opening date beyond a plan to open before year-end, the transition from pop-ups to a permanent storefront suggests a multi-month buildout that will include interior work and permits. The co-location with an occupied apartment and an existing cleaning business also means the owners will need to coordinate construction and tenant relations as they complete the project.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | 1801–1803 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids |
| Owners | Rohmell Matthews and Madeline Haadsma |
| Square footage | ~3,200 sq. ft. |
| Cart launch | April 2026 |
| Estimated opening | Before the end of 2026 |
Local shoppers and neighbors will likely see more concrete details — signage, hours of operation and hiring announcements — as the owners finalize the interior and navigate regulatory steps. For community members interested in supporting locally owned enterprises, Abo Coffee Company will join Grand Rapids’ growing roster of independent cafés and contribute an Indigenous perspective to the city’s food and drink scene.
As the project advances, residents can look for updates from the owners and municipal permitting channels that will signal a firm opening date. In the meantime, Abo Coffee’s cart operations continue to offer a preview of the shop’s menu and approach to service at events around the city.
