For those who have missed the small-batch coffees roasted by Black Iron Coffee Roasters, the shop’s is open for business again. To mark the occasion, there’s a grand reopening celebration set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, featuring drink specials and music.
Owned by Kevin and Darcie Ridge, the popular coffee shop at 119 W. Grand River Ave. in downtown Howell, which opened in 2018, specializing in hand-roasted, small batches of coffee, cited rising operating costs and health issues as why it closed its doors in December 2023. (You can read our story here.)
The shop has made some reopening changes, according to information posted on social media: prices have been adjusted (“Nothing crazy, but it did need to be adjusted compared to our costs,” the post read.); hours will be 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; hot food service will be on hold, though the shop will continue to sell baked goods.
“As we get up and running, we just ask people to give us some patience if it gets busy,” the post read.
Kevin Ridge, who founded Black Iron several years before opening the brick-and-mortar shop in 2019, specializes in hand roasted artisan craft coffee. He sourced small batches of beans from farms and co-ops around the world and experimented with special blends. The shop also sold baked goods, sandwiches, soups and other items, and hosted live entertainment and artwork.
