Welcome to Cafe Sous Terre
Not too long ago, Café Sous Terre was just an empty basement—an unfinished space beneath a restored 19th-century mansion in Midtown Detroit. The upstairs had been brought back to life years earlier, but the basement sat untouched, waiting for an idea.
The Idea
Came in 2022 when Reimer Priester, a long-aspiring café and bar owner, saw potential in the space. It started simply—a cozy, underground coffee spot. Then the vision grew. A bit of a French influence crept in. Then cocktails. Then bagels. Some of it made perfect sense, some of it less so, but all of it felt right.
With backing from Invest Detroit, guidance from Coffeehaus, and no prior experience actually running a café, Reimer set out to make it happen. His wife, Becca Priester, led the charge on design, turning the blank basement into a warm, inviting space. A few months before opening, Joel Jones joined the team, bringing his deep knowledge of coffee and cocktails to refine and execute the vision.
After two years of planning, building, and fine-tuning, Café Sous Terre opened its doors in July 2023. Since then, the goal has been simple: to create a space where hospitality is intentional, the drinks are excellent, and people feel welcome—whether they’re here for a morning espresso, a nightcap, or something in between.
In a world
that feels more disconnected by the day, places like this matter.
A café, a bar, a quiet corner to sit with a friend—it’s not just about what’s in the cup. It’s about carving out time to be together.
So if there’s someone you’ve been meaning to catch up with, give them a call. And if you need a place to meet, you know where to find us.
