Roasting Plant to partner with Dilla's Delights under Hill Harper ownership

Actor, writer, and entrepreneur Hill Harper recently announced he'd be taking over the Detroit Roasting Plant, a unique coffee shop that offers custom blend technology unavailable at any other cafe in the world.

The takeover is part of Harper's goal to grow a sustainable, successful business that will offer jobs to communities in need. The Roasting Plant will also play a role in the actor's Manifest Your Destiny Foundation, which helps at-risk youth, by providing tactical work skills and professional growth opportunities to young Detroiters.

"You can only host so many rubber chicken dinners and silent auctions," Harper tells MT. "But my goal has always been to create and own businesses that provide job opportunities."

Harper gushed about Detroit in a press release saying: "Detroit is a great American city that was forged on innovation, social enterprise and entrepreneurship. My ownership of Roasting Plant Coffee in downtown Detroit builds upon that legacy. It is truly an honor and privilege for me to help fuel the Motor City, not just with Roasting Plant’s incomparable coffee — but by providing career paths and launching pads to greater success in a booming industry for young Detroiters hungry for opportunity and active mentorship."
Harper also revealed to MT that he would be partnering with Dilla's Delights to offer a handful of exclusive donuts at the Roasting Plant.

Harper says he spoke with the donut shop and found that their customer flow is often irregular — some days they sell out, and others they are left with dozens of unusable donuts.

"I'm looking to help other businesses too," Harper says. "Every independently owned store needs a sustainable cash flow to help them survive."

In order to keep the businesses from competing, Harper says Dilla's will create a special line of donuts for the Roasting Plant, who will not carry the brand's signature donuts.

"You can't get these donuts at Dilla's and we won't be carrying their signature donuts," Harper says. "So, we're not competing. Everybody wins."

Harper also announced he purchased a home in the historic Boston-Edison district, which will undergo renovations before Harper takes residence there.

"I own several properties, but I have never worked on a historic property — it's over 100 years old — bringing it to back to life and maintaining its history is really important to me," Harper says.

But, if the actor had listened to the advice of his friends, he may not have bought a home in Detroit after all. When he told his metro Detroit-based friends he was moving to the area, he says many of them encouraged him to purchase a home outside of the city. Luckily, he didn't listen.

"I encourage people to invest in the city," he says. "I'm excited about the the house, the coffee house, Downtown Detroit, and establishing roots in this community."

Harper says he will be a hands-on owner at the Roasting Plant and will work to ensure there is a culture of good service.

"It's similar to acting," Harper says of owning a business. "I want people to have a good experience."