Pizza with a Purpose
At two popular pizza joints, Detroit-style pizza stands as a powerful force for positive change—satisfying more than just the palate and strengthening and nurturing the community it serves.
PIZZA HOT SPOTS Grandma Bob’s and Michigan & Trumbull are known for their tantalizing takes on Detroit-style square deep-dish pizza. But both take pizza a step further, using it as the centerpiece for philanthropic initiatives to give back to the community.
At Michigan & Trumbull, a nod to the intersection that used to be the home of Tiger Stadium and near the pizzeria’s original location, pizza serves as a catalyst for positive change. Co-owners and Metro Detroit natives Kristen Caverley and Nathan Peck started Michigan & Trumbull in a food hall in Pittsburgh. Upon returning to Michigan, they inaugurated their culinary venture within the now-shuttered Fort Street Galley food hall. Subsequently, they operated a sit-down restaurant in Corktown for three years before making a strategic move to the vibrant Elijah McCoy neighborhood.
In 2020, they launched their Good Corner pizza initiative in response to the murder of George Floyd and racial disparities exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.
“Our goal was to provide a platform and resources to local organizations working to combat this,” says Caverley.
Every month, a different organization benefits from a portion of proceeds of a dedicated pie. Michigan & Trumbull raised nearly $5,000 through Good Corner between January and June 2023, supporting various local nonprofits. Beneficiaries included Green Living Science, Detroit PAL, Ruth Ellis Center, 3D Detroit, Focus: Hope and Back Alley Bikes.
In January, St. Vincent & Sarah Fisher Center was the beneficiary of 25% of each sale of the Fancy Nancy: mozzarella, Genoa salami, Calabrian chili relish and basil aioli.
Grandma Bob’s in Corktown also uses pizza as a powerful force for positive change with its “Spread Dough” charity series, which launched in January 2024. The owners, brothers John and Dave Kwiatkowski, christened the pizzeria in honor of their grandmother, Roberta. Affectionately known as “Robby” or “Bobby” by their grandfather and “Grandma Bob” by the brothers, her legacy lives on through their culinary and charitable endeavors.
On the last Tuesday of every month, guest chefs step into Grandma Bob’s kitchen to craft their unique rendition of Detroit-style pizza, showcasing the pizzeria’s dough. This culinary collaboration goes beyond the kitchen, as each guest chef handpicks and dedicates all profits from these special nights to charities.
Anthony Lombardo, chef and co-owner of SheWolf, kicked off the Spread Dough charity series as its inaugural guest chef. His featured pizza, the Sicilian Sfincione, showcased a sumptuous blend of flavors with a rich tomato-onion ragu, caciocavallo cheese, breadcrumbs and anchovies. Detroit Food Academy, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth in the culinary arts and food entrepreneurship, was the beneficiary. While pizza prices may vary, guests can generally enjoy this culinary experience for around $20 per pizza. Upcoming chefs include Jennifer Jackson and Justin Tootla of Bunny, Phoebe Zimmerman of Freya, Godwin Ihentuge of Yum Village and Hamissi Mamba of Baobab Fare.
For more details about “The Good Corner” by Michigan & Trumbull and Grandma Bob’s “Spread Dough” series, visit their respective social media channels.
Grandma Bob's
2135 Michigan Ave.
Detroit, MI 48216
grandmabobs.com | 313-315-3177
Michigan & Trumbull
1331 Holden St. #100
Detroit, MI 48202
michigantrumbullpizza.com | 313-637-4992
Courtney Burk is a writer whose work primarily focuses on the hospitality industry across Metro Detroit. Being a restaurant kid, she found her love of storytelling through food and the narratives of those within the industry. When she’s not writing, she can be found in the garden, working on new projects with her husband and enjoying the Great Lakes with her rescue mutts. Visit yeahnoforsure.co to check out her work.
