The Founders of Bea’s Squeeze Bring More Beverages to Eastern Market

First came a lemonade stand, now the husband-and-wife duo is introducing a craft coffee shop at the front of its newly opened co-working space, Bea’s Detroit
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Bea’s Detroit, a new co-working space that will house a craft coffee shop, is based in Eastern Market.

“We thought it was going to be a little summer pop-up,” says Beatrice Wolnerman of Bea’s Squeeze, the lemonade stand turned full-fledged line of beverages that she and husband Eli launched this past summer. Wolnerman says the duo’s intention for the lemonade stand was to “entice people to come and get lemonade and then give them the schpeal about the real business.” The real business, she explains, is an Eastern Market-based co-working space she and Eli were working on launching in the coming months.

As plans for the co-working space were delayed due to construction setbacks, Bea’s Squeeze took on a life of its own. “I wanted to do this as a marketing tactic, but it’s taken off as a major business for us.” With the line of classic and pink rose lemonades now stocked in 11 states nationwide, Bea’s Detroit, that co-working space the Wolnermans had spent more than a year building, is now taking off, too. And in addition to a number of private offices, work spaces, conference rooms, and a co-creating warehouse, Bea’s Detroit will house Bea’s Café, a craft coffee shop open to members and the general public alike.

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Guests gather at the opening of the space in late February.

At the late February grand opening, visitors toured the Bea’s Detroit space at 1533 Winder St. They entered through the café, sipped signature cocktails starring Bea’s classic and pink rose lemonades in the warehouse, noshed on pizza from neighboring hotspot Supino’s at the second-level common area, and caught a view of Eastern Market’s cult-favorite murals from the venue’s brisk rooftop deck.

Though Bea’s Café is currently limiting offerings to Populace beverages, it’s tentatively scheduled for an official launch at the end of March. Then, the venue will offer pastries and a full coffee menu, including drip coffee, tea, and espresso-based drinks. “We have an oven and the whole setup is ready to go, we’re just looking to find the right pastry chef,” Wolnerman says. “We’re trying to do some grab-and-go lunches that are already boxed, pastries, and maybe things like quiches that can be easily popped into the oven.” In the meantime, diners can stop in for Populace coffee products as well as Bea’s Detroit merchandise from its retail shop. (Think, beanie caps, T-shirts, and totes.)

Pop into Bea’s Café for a caffeine fix — and perhaps, you’ll be enticed to sign up for a Bea’s Detroit membership while you’re at it.