Business & Tech

New Coffee House in Downtown Trenton to Retain Historical Significance

Mark Hayes of Grosse Ile plans to decorate the interior of a new coffee shop in the same manner as one of his other businesses--Dotte Pub in Wyandotte

The interior design of a new coffee house in Downtown Trenton is expected to showcase Trenton's rich history through historic photographs.

Mark Hayes, 41, of Grosse Ile, plans to open a coffee house in the former A&W building, which he purchased last week.

Hayes said he hopes people will rekindle old traditions--started before the A&W closed three years ago--and begin new traditions at his coffee house.

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"I want to focus on Trenton's historic value," Hayes said.

Hayes is part-owner of Dotte Pub in Wyandotte, where he and his two business partners spent nearly $70,000 restoring the old Edinger Hotel bar to its former glory. Work crews restored original crown molding and wall sconces that had not functioned in more than 30 years.

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The walls at Dotte Pub are filled with black and white, historic photos of a by-gone era in Wyandotte including photos of the exterior and interior of the former Edinger Hotel dating back to the early 1930s.

Hayes plans to decorate the interior of his, still unnamed, Trenton coffee house in a similar manner. He's already begun attempting to locate photos of historical significance by contacting the Trenton Historical Society and Trenton Historical Museum, and by visiting Ebay.

"It's not going to be a bar, but I'm going into with the same focus of giving it nostalgic value," Hayes said.

The exterior of the former A&W will remain unchanged, for the most part. Hayes said he plans to retain the building's familiar facade, so people continue to see the same building they've grown accustomed to seeing as they enter Elizabeth Park.

"The landmark is still going to be there," Hayes said.

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