Kitab Cafe in plan review for Library Street location in Detroit

Overview

Updated 59 minutes ago

Kitab Cafe, the Hamtramck bookstore and coffee shop, appears in Detroit health department records for a location at 1260 Library St. The record, first listed on the city's data portal on October 29, shows the business in plan review, one step in the approval process rather than final clearance to open.

Owners Ahmed Alwhysee and Asma Almulaiki opened their first Kitab in Hamtramck in January 2023, building a shop the neighborhood calls its cafeteria. The Library Street record shows the brand expanding beyond its original home. The couple had also planned a second location in Midtown at the former Avalon International Breads flagship.

Why it matters

A Hamtramck neighborhood staple is expanding into a new part of Detroit, bringing its community-focused cafe model beyond its original home.

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Key Indicators

2023

Hamtramck location opened

Ahmed Alwhysee and Asma Almulaiki opened their first Kitab Cafe and Bookstore in January 2023.

Plan review

Library St record status

Detroit health department lists Kitab Downtown Inc. in plan review at 1260 Library St.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Ahmed Alwhysee

Co-owner, Kitab Cafe and Bookstore

Co-owner of Kitab; runs the business full time

Asma Almulaiki

Co-owner, Kitab Cafe and Bookstore

Co-owner of Kitab; runs the business full time

Organizations Involved

Kitab Cafe and Bookstore

Cafe and bookstore

Operating in Hamtramck; expanding

A cafe and bookstore in Hamtramck offering coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and books on Islam, personal development, and nonfiction.

Kitab Downtown Inc.

Business entity

Named on a food establishment plan review record at 1260 Library St

The corporate entity named on the Detroit health department plan review record for 1260 Library St.

Detroit Health Department

Municipal agency

Reviews food establishment licenses in Detroit

The city agency that reviews and licenses food establishments in Detroit.

Timeline

January 2023 October 2026

2 events Latest: Yesterday

October 2026
Kitab Downtown Inc. appears in Detroit plan review
Latest Regulatory

Detroit Health Department lists a food establishment in plan review for Kitab Downtown Inc. at 1260 Library St.
Yesterday
January 2023
Kitab Cafe opens in Hamtramck
Opening

Ahmed Alwhysee and Asma Almulaiki open their first cafe and bookstore in Hamtramck.
January 2023

Scenarios

Kitab Cafe opens at 1260 Library St

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Inferred from the plan review record and the owners' stated expansion plans

Detroit's health department completes its plan review and approves a food establishment license for Kitab Downtown Inc. The owners then outfit the space and start serving customers, giving Kitab a presence beyond Hamtramck. The cafe would bring its Adeni chai, La Colombe coffee, and Zingerman's sandwiches to the Library Street area.

Plan review stalls and the Library St cafe does not open

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Inferred from the record's early stage; plan review alone does not guarantee a license

The plan review record stays in limbo, the department asks for more information, or the owners decide against the site. The record may drop off the city's list without an approved license. Many small-business openings never advance past the planning stage.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

January (year unstated in source)

Avalon International Breads leaves its flagship store

After 25 years at its flagship store on West Willis Street in Midtown Detroit, Avalon International Breads closed that location and moved into a shared space inside Jolly Pumpkin restaurant on West Canfield Street. The building it left behind became available on the market.

Then

The Willis Street building became available. Kitab's owners signed to rent it for their second location.

Now

Kitab's owners aim to become a Cass Corridor staple the way Avalon once was, inheriting the neighborhood role an older institution left behind.

Why this matters now

The same cycle of neighborhood turnover - an old institution leaves, a new one moves in - is visible in Kitab's expansion. The Library Street record may extend that pattern beyond Midtown.

January 2023

Kitab's Hamtramck debut

Ahmed Alwhysee and Asma Almulaiki opened Kitab Cafe and Bookstore on Joseph Campau in Hamtramck, about a year after signing the lease, using savings, loans, and family support.

Then

The shop drew regulars, stayed open late during Ramadan, and became known as Hamtramck's cafeteria.

Now

Success led the couple to quit their jobs and plan expansion beyond Hamtramck, including their planned Midtown location and now the Library Street record.

Why this matters now

Establishes Kitab's model of building a community gathering space, the same approach the owners are now taking to other Detroit neighborhoods.