Another day brings another open business in downtown Detroit.
One day after the all-new Under Armour storefront opened on Woodward and State, Avalon Cafe and Bakery opened just across the street.
The line has wrapped around the inside of the store and outside the front doors from 7 a.m. until early evening.
“We’re having a blast, the customers are digging it and the food is great!” said Jackie Victor, the owner of the cafe. “We just need more sea salt chocolate chip cookies!”
Big lines may have caused the company to sell-out of their fan favorite cookies, but that didn’t stop the crowds from continuing to pour in.
Josh Hemmingway, a long-time customer at the Willis and Third street location, said he had to try out the new downtown spot. He brought his mom with him too.
“She grew up here in the Detroit-area, and she didn’t have a chance to enjoy downtown,” said Hemmingway. “Now that it’s being re-invented I want her to enjoy it too.”
Victor said that’s the kind of response she wants to hear. Since bringing her artisan bakery to the Cass Corridor in 1997, she’s been working to improve the community around her through her business.
She noted that when she opened up shop people were saying that Detroit was dead for business, she proved everyone wrong.
“This is a little different,” said Victor, referring to the downtown location inside a newly redone building owned by Bedrock. “There are so many people working here, so the density is something completely different than what we usually see.”
What you will always see is the freshly made artisan breads and baked goods that has won Avalon International Breads awards. Each and every day employees come in overnight, and in the early morning hours, to bake fresh products.
There is also pizza, casual fare and a huge rack of “grab-and-go” items for those on the go during the breakfast, launch or even dinner hours.
Asked what sets her place apart from other spots in downtown, Victor said the answer was pretty simple: “I think there’s a warmth, and frankly a kind of love, that I don’t think every single business enjoys with their customers like we do.”
