We were lucky to catch up with Betsy Murdoch recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Betsy, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for The Rectory was born directly out of The Congregation. As The Congregation grew, it became clear that what people were responding to wasn’t just coffee or food—it was the feeling of belonging. During COVID, when so many gathering spaces disappeared, The Congregation unexpectedly became a lifeline. It was a place people came not only to support a small business, but to feel connected at a time when connection was scarce.

Watching that happen sparked the idea for The Rectory. We began to see how powerful a thoughtfully held space could be, especially one rooted in care, openness, and community. There was a clear need for more than a café—there was a need for a dedicated place where people could gather, collaborate, celebrate, and support one another, particularly local small businesses, artists, and organizations that had lost visibility and opportunity during that period.

The logic behind opening The Rectory was grounded in what we were already witnessing firsthand. When we created space and used our platform to uplift others, people showed up—for events, for partnerships, for each other. The Rectory wasn’t about solving a traditional market gap; it was about responding to a human one. It offered a unique approach by prioritizing connection over consumption and by intentionally using our voice to amplify the voices around us.

What excited us most was the possibility of deepening those connections. The Rectory became a natural extension of The Congregation—a place where community wasn’t just welcomed, but centered. It proved that a business built on trust, generosity, and shared purpose could thrive, and that creating space for others ultimately creates something stronger for everyone.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

My name is Betsy Murdoch, and I have spent my entire career in food and beverage. Before opening The Congregation, I was working for a local coffee roaster in sales and events, selling coffee to other cafes and businesses around Detroit. That work gave me a deep understanding of the industry from multiple angles, and over time it became clear that what I really wanted to do was create something rooted in my own community.

The Congregation was born out of a recognition of what our neighborhood was missing, combined with a deep respect for the history of 12th Street and the vibrant ecosystem of small businesses and amenities that once existed there. We are located just outside of Boston Edison, and the building itself is a restored church. From the beginning, it was important to us to honor that history, so we put serious effort into restoring the original architecture including the stained glass windows, the maple flooring, and even the organ. The Congregation is a cafe and bar, an event space, and a community hub all in one. Shortly after, we opened The Rectory, a pizza restaurant housed in the former home of the church’s pastors, right next door. The two spaces complement each other beautifully and together they offer something truly unique to the neighborhood.

Opening in March 2020 was no small feat on its own. It took four years to get the doors open, and then just two weeks after we finally did, the pandemic hit. For three months I stayed and operated the cafe by myself, working within whatever parameters were allowed at the time. When summer arrived, we pivoted to outdoor events, and many of those events are still running today. As hard as that period was, it gave me the opportunity to assess every system we had, build new processes and procedures from the ground up, and really streamline how we operate. I was doing everything myself, which meant I had to get it right.

What sets us apart is that these are truly owner operated businesses. I am in both spaces daily, making sure my team feels supported and that every guest is experiencing the quality and hospitality we are known for. We are also deeply committed to the neighborhood around us, constantly supporting local organizations and always looking for new ways to show up for the community that has shown up for us.

What I am most proud of is what we have built in such a short period of time. In six years, so many new people have been introduced to this community, and many of them have even moved in. That kind of impact, knowing that what we created has helped shape the fabric of a neighborhood, is something I do not take lightly. At the end of the day, that is exactly what The Congregation and The Rectory are here to do.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

Honestly, the close calls have been less about one dramatic moment and more about the slow, relentless grind of keeping a small food and beverage operation alive. Over the first five years of running The Congregation, we navigated two pandemic shutdowns, brutal Michigan winters that kept people home, and summers so hot that foot traffic just disappeared. The hard truth about this industry is that even when you close for a single day, the bills do not stop. Rent, utilities, vendor invoices, they keep coming regardless of what is happening outside your doors. Grant assistance for small food and beverage businesses is nearly nonexistent, and the financial margins are razor thin even on a good day.
What people do not talk about enough is that coming out of the pandemic was actually harder than being in it, and that was true even for us, a business that did not exist before the pandemic. There was no predictability. We were regularly understaffed one week and overstaffed the next. Supply chain issues made inventory management a constant challenge. Inflation was very real and hit every line of our budget. At least during the pandemic there were parameters to work within. Coming out of it felt like navigating in the dark.
There were absolutely moments of personal self doubt. Times where I genuinely questioned whether we could keep going. And almost every single time, it was a neighbor stopping me on the street or walking through the door just to tell me how much The Congregation means to them. Those small moments of encouragement from the community we were built to serve are honestly what carried me through. You cannot put a dollar amount on that kind of support.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Our reputation was never the result of a deliberate marketing strategy. It grew organically, simply by showing up for our community every single day and making decisions rooted in that commitment.

Every month we host a round up campaign at the register benefiting local non-profits. We welcome neighborhood organizations to set up information tables in our lobby so they can connect directly with guests as they walk in. We regularly open our doors to markets and shopping experiences that spotlight other small businesses. Supporting others is just part of how we operate.

I think people can feel that authenticity the moment they walk in. There is something about being inside a beautifully restored church, with the original stained glass windows, the maple floors, the organ still standing, that sets a tone before anyone has even ordered a drink. The spaces themselves invite people to slow down, look around, and feel like they are part of something. And once people feel that, they come back and they bring others with them.

We have been fortunate to host so many incredible events over the years and that will never stop. Every event, every organization we partner with, every small business we make room for adds another thread to the fabric of what we are building. The reputation followed naturally from just doing the work and caring deeply about the community we are a part of.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thecongregationdetroit.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecongregationdetroit
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/thecongregationdetroit