Motor City Match helps Detroit woman transform wine hobby into neighborhood business

• Inspired by family entrepreneurial legacy, Tiffani Patterson has taken her passion for wine from a hobby to a new brick-and-mortar business

• Grandeur Cru offers Detroit-made wines and tastings in East Village community space designed for neighbors

• Patterson joins small group of Black winemakers in industry, where fewer than 1% are Black-owned

• Grandeur Cru received $75,000 in Round 27

• Motor City Match has awarded $19.5M in cash grants; 85% of overall winners are minority-owned businesses, 70% are women-owned, and 68% are owned by Detroit residents

JULY 9, 2025 (DETROIT) — The City of Detroit and Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) today held an official ribbon cutting for Grandeur Cru Wine Shop, a Black woman-owned neighborhood wine destination located in East Village. The business becomes the 190th Motor City Match brick-and-mortar business to open in the city, offering wines crafted in Detroit, tastings and curated bottles in a relaxed, local setting. 

Tiffani Patterson never planned to become a full-time vintner. The lifelong east side resident and King High School graduate started making wine as a hobby, sharing bottles with friends. Eastern Market called her in 2020 and encouraged her to take the business to the next level. Patterson saw that moment as her sign to go all in. Determination, a deep love for her neighborhood and support from Motor City Match helped Patterson transform Grandeur Cru from a dream into a storefront.

“Wine was just something I did for fun,” Patterson said. “But after that call from Eastern Market, I realized people really enjoyed it, and I wanted to make it something the community could share in, too.” 

Patterson's venture enters an industry where Black representation remains minimal. According to Bloomberg, only 0.1% of the entire wine industry in the U.S. was Black-owned as of 2020. The Association of African American Vintners reports being aware of approximately 70 Black-owned wine brands nationwide, with less than 1% of American winemakers being Black.

Patterson used her $75,000 Motor City Match Round 27 grant to finish the final construction phase, covering HVAC, electrical and plumbing work. She had already invested her own money from Grand Trolley, her transportation company, into the buildout. The Motor City Match funding helped her cross the finish line this year.

Grandeur Cru officially opened at 9916 Kercheval, offering bottle sales, tastings by the glass, light bites and curated wine flights. Patterson designed the space for comfort and community. The shop's most popular selections include a house-made red blend and a peach wine that sells quickly during summer months.

“We needed a special place to be, where we didn’t have to go downtown just to enjoy a good glass of wine,” Patterson said. “Grandeur Cru is that place. It feels like home, like your own backyard.” 

Patterson’s roots run deep in the community. She lives just minutes from her storefront, and her entrepreneurial spirit is inspired by her grandfather, Joseph Singleton Sr., who operated Singleton Cleaners on the east side for nearly 60 years. She now leads a team of four Detroiters and continues to carry forward a legacy of Black business ownership in her neighborhood. 

“This is what neighborhood revitalization looks like. Someone who lives here, loves here, and is building something beautiful for everyone to enjoy,” said Deputy Mayor Melia Howard. “Tiffani saw what her community needed and made it happen. Now people don't have to leave the east side to have a great wine experience.”

The ribbon cutting kicks off Grandeur Cru's official grand opening celebrations, including an all-day party July 12. The shop operates Wednesday through Sunday from 2 p.m. to midnight, closing at 10 p.m. on Sundays. Bottles range from $25 to $35, and wine flights cost $18.

“As the son and grandson of entrepreneurs, I love seeing someone like Tiffani follow in their family's footsteps,” said Sean Gray, vice president of Small Business Services at the DEGC, responsible for managing the Motor City Match program. “When we see entrepreneurs like Tiffani opening their doors, that's Motor City Match working exactly as it should. She's creating opportunities and a gathering place where neighbors can come together. We’re proud to support this kind of community building.”

Through 28 rounds of Motor City Match: 

• Total cash grants: $19.5 million (Total leveraged investment: $104.5 million) 

• 85 percent are minority-owned businesses 

• 70 percent are women-owned businesses 

• 68 percent are businesses owned by Detroit residents 

About Motor City Match       

Motor City Match is a unique partnership between the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit (EDC) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Competitive financial assistance is supported by a broad partnership of Southeast Michigan community development financial institutions and corporations including, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, Ford Foundation, Hudson Webber Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, New Economy Initiative, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Motor City Match applications are available quarterly. More information is available at www.MotorCityMatch.com.