News Summary
Carrigan Cafe in Saline marks almost ten years of serving the community with a delightful menu featuring seasonal lattes and house-made baked goods. Owners Karen and Jason Carrigan have shown commitment to their loyal patrons amid personal challenges, reaffirming their dedication to maintaining the beloved cafe. Known for unique coffee options and a variety of sandwiches, the cafe fosters community spirit through numerous events and themed merchandise.
Saline, Michigan — Carrigan Cafe, a beloved establishment in downtown Saline, celebrates nearly a decade of serving the community since its opening in September 2014. Nestled in the former My Favorite Café location at 101 S Ann Arbor St., the café has become a cornerstone for locals, offering an inviting atmosphere, eclectic seasonal lattes, and a menu featuring house-made baked goods and all-day sandwiches.
Owners Karen and Jason Carrigan have built a loyal customer base over the nearly eleven years of operation. The café is particularly known for its commitment to catering to customer preferences, providing specialty coffee options that can be personalized. Popular drinks on the menu include the renowned Mexican Latte, which combines brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and dark chocolate, along with the Debbie, a brewed coffee enhanced with half and half and caramel syrup.
In 2023, the Carrigans faced a major decision regarding the future of their café due to Jason’s job relocation to Georgia in 2020. After four months of contemplation about selling the café, they affirmed their commitment to staying in business when Jason found a job back in Michigan. This decision was met with joyous reactions from the café’s loyal patrons, who expressed their delight with hugs and cheers upon hearing the news.
Carrigan Cafe sources its coffee beans from Coffee Express in Plymouth, Michigan, and pairs them with high-quality Guernsey Dairy products. The sandwich selection features signature items like the Ruth and Harold, the latter being a Reuben-style sandwich made with pastrami, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing. For those preferring turkey instead of pastrami, the Ruth sandwich is also available. Another notable option is the Grandma’s Salad sandwich, which offers egg salad or chicken salad paired with lettuce and tomato on a freshly baked croissant. The café also caters to diverse tastes with build-your-own breakfast sandwiches, house-made soups, and quiches that offer both vegetarian and meat choices, as well as a variety of baked goods—some with gluten-free options.
Adding to its charm, Carrigan Cafe prepares its own smoked salmon cream cheese and hosts various community events, which include open mic nights, trivia challenges, euchre games, and family game nights. As part of the Salty Summer Sounds concert series, the café opens late on Thursdays, reinforcing a festive community spirit. This year, the café also introduced themed merchandise featuring a stoat named Nutmeg, the café’s mascot. Items available include shirts, mugs, bags, and whole bean coffee.
Carrigan Cafe maintains operational hours of Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Extended hours on Fridays allow the café to accommodate special events, operating from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
As Carrigan Cafe continues to thrive as a community favorite, its combination of flavorful offerings, a focus on customer satisfaction, and commitment to community engagement only solidify its status as a cherished destination for both locals and visitors in Saline.
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Additional Resources
- MLive: Saline Cafe’s Creative Coffee Sandwiches
- Google Search: Saline Michigan
- The Sun Times News: Carrigan Cafe Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary
- Wikipedia: Coffee
- Eater Detroit: Best New Ann Arbor Restaurants
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food
- The Sun Times News: Saline Area Chamber of Commerce Awards
- Google News: Saline Michigan News
- MLive: Brewed Awakenings Cafe for Sale
- Google Scholar: Saline Michigan
Author: STAFF HERE PLYMOUTH WRITER
The PLYMOUTH STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREPlymouth.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Plymouth, Wayne County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Plymouth Ice Festival, Art in the Park, and the Plymouth Fall Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Plymouth, plus leading businesses in automotive and retail that power the local economy such as Roush Industries and Downtown Plymouth businesses. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HERENovi.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
