Hard To FIND: The Story of the Coffee Factory

Hard To FIND: The Story of the Coffee Factory. A documentary film by Lorin Reglin of LRfilms 2026.

Hidden inside a former furniture factory in downtown Muskegon, The Coffee Factory isn’t easy to find — and that’s part of what makes it special. This documentary-style film by LRfilms explores the story behind Muskegon’s oldest running coffee shop through a decade of change, risk, creativity, and community building. What began as a coffee counter inside an industrial space slowly transformed into a welcoming, inclusive hub where people gather not just to drink coffee, but to connect, create, organize, and belong.
Through intimate interviews with owner Sarah, longtime baristas, customers, artists, and community partners, Hard To FIND traces the shop’s roots — from repurposed conveyor belts and factory materials to hand-built furniture designed by local artists. Every detail of the space reflects intention, history, and care, honoring the building’s past while shaping something entirely new.

The film also highlights the Coffee Factory’s role beyond coffee: hosting Muskegon Pride, supporting political organizing, collaborating with nonprofits, donating proceeds through monthly featured drinks, and serving as a launching point for grassroots efforts like Biking With Purpose. In a city navigating redevelopment and rebirth, the shop has become a steady, familiar place — a safe space, a creative refuge, and for many, a second home.
Running a small business in a low-traffic industrial area hasn’t been easy. Long days, slow winters, financial uncertainty, and constant adaptation are part of the story. But so is resilience — expanding the menu, baking in-house, building partnerships with local bookstores, thrift shops, artists, and makers, and leaning into community when times get hard.

At its core, Hard To FIND is about people. It’s about the relationships formed across the counter, the regulars who keep coming back, the staff who help shape the space, and the communities who found a home within its walls. It’s about why places like this matter — especially when they’re built with intention, inclusion, and heart.

Programming courtesy of Lorin Reglin / LRfilms © 2026