A Detroit Man Turned His Second Chance into a Bustling West Side Diner

November 5, 2025

Darryl Young, who served seven years in prison, has opened Moma G's restaurant in Detroit's Barton-McFarland neighborhood after receiving $100,000 through Motor City Match's Community Violence Intervention grant program when traditional banks rejected his loan applications due to his criminal record. The restaurant, named after his late mother who had dreamed of feeding the community, serves affordable comfort food including viral smash burgers and operates as both a business and community gathering space. During incarceration, Young earned his GED and culinary certifications, and upon release in 2018, he volunteered with violence prevention organizations before applying for the funding that enabled him to transform an abandoned building into a thriving eatery.

Who is affected

Darryl Young (restaurant owner and formerly incarcerated individual)
Young's son and family members (employed at the restaurant)
Barton-McFarland neighborhood residents (customers and community members)
Young people in the neighborhood (who see Young as a role model)
Detroiters who have turned their lives around (potential beneficiaries of the CVI program)
Customers from across the state and out-of-town visitors
The People's Action Detroit organization (where Young volunteered)
Motor City Match program participants and applicants

What action is being taken

Young is operating Moma G's restaurant, greeting customers, calling out orders, and cooking
Young is employing his son and family members in the restaurant
The restaurant is serving food to customers seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Motor City Match is providing funding and technical assistance to Detroit entrepreneurs
The Community Violence Intervention (CVI) grant program is creating pathways to entrepreneurship for individuals with criminal records
Young is serving as a role model and providing a community gathering space

Why it matters

This matters because it demonstrates that investing in entrepreneurship for formerly incarcerated individuals can simultaneously reduce violence, create economic opportunity, and strengthen communities. The CVI program represents a preventative approach to violence reduction that provides legitimate income, stability, and purpose rather than relying solely on enforcement measures. Young's success challenges the barriers that criminal records create in traditional lending and shows how alternative funding models can unlock potential that banks overlook. For the historically disinvested Barton-McFarland neighborhood, the restaurant serves as tangible proof that transformation and renewal are possible, while Motor City Match's track record—supporting 197 businesses with $21 million in grants, predominantly to minority, women, and Detroit resident-owned businesses—illustrates the broader impact of inclusive economic development strategies.

What's next

Young plans to launch a drive-thru soon to keep up with customer demand
The restaurant will continue operating seven days a week with expanded hours

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle