New Coffee Shop Supporting and Employing Veterans Now Open in Grand Rapids

A new coffee shop with a wonderful mission is now open in Grand Rapids.

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For the past decade the non-profit Has Heart has been helping veterans express themselves through art and connect with others through coffee.

After extensive fundraising and renovating Has Heart has finally opened a permanent location at Veteran's Memorial Park downtown Grand Rapids, as of Monday, Nov. 13, 2023.

Renovations to the historic building at 22 Sheldon Ave NE began in 2022 and total $916,000. Upgrades include structural and accessibility improvements, indoor and outdoor café seating, a retail space, and art display areas to showcase local veteran artists.

The City’s capital improvement fund and parks millage fund each contributed $250,000 for building improvements. The Downtown Development Authority and Has Heart contributed $166,000 and $250,000 respectively for construction and the interior and exterior furnishings.

The idea for Has Heart started over a cup of coffee back in 2010 between 8-year U.S. Navy veteran Michael Hyacinthe, 44, and artist/designer Tyler Way, 37, and has evolved from annual ArtPrize exhibits and pop-up shops featuring their collaborative design projects between veterans and professional designers. Since 2011, their work has filled unoccupied spaces around Grand Rapids, including inside and outside of the newly renovated building.

Hyacinthe said in a release,

We now have the opportunity with the HAS HEART Coffee Shop to honor veterans and their sacrifices on a daily basis, To be able to do so in a beautiful historic building that opens to the park’s monuments featuring the names of local men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms is extremely meaningful for us. We’re honored to activate this space to build community and bring others together.

The new Has Heart coffee shop and veteran-focused creative organization is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Has Heart is actively hiring and training veterans and their partners to help with operations.

If you'd like to support Has Heart, you can do so here.

Follow Has Heart on Facebook for updates!