A new bakery opened in downtown Grand Rapids on Monday. The retail shop is operated by a local nonprofit that helps people experiencing homelessness.
The grand opening of Open Door Bakery is part of Dégagé Ministries' $7.5 million expansion project along Cherry Street. It serves as the final piece of the organization's multi-year project and is located on 144 Division Avenue South.
The bakery and commercial kitchen is 1,000 square feet and offers gourmet cookies and cupcakes. All of the baked goods are prepared by women who are either current or former patrons of the organization's Open Door Women's Center.
According to a Dégagé press release, 100% of the proceeds from purchases will be used to fund Open Door programming. The center helps women with workforce development and provides sleeping accommodations for up to 100 women.
Jenna Vermeer is the manager of Open Door Bakery. She said the retail shop is huge for Grand Rapids because it provides a way for individuals to help people experiencing homelessness and support women served by Dégagé.
“Baking can be very therapeutic and that is helpful for the ladies who are currently experiencing homelessness to get together to create something that tastes good and just to build those relationships within the kitchen is so important for them,” she said.
Vermeer said the bakery currently employs three full-time workers, but the organization hopes to hire additional workers as well as offer more catering downtown.
The bakery is close to the organization's other retail shop, Thrift on Div, which opened in February 2022.
The Open Door Bakery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.