Eastern Market is a popular market near downtown Detroit.
They have hundreds of vendors selling anything from live chickens to baked
goods. With Detroit’s spirit shown, food trucks, and shoppers all over. Eastern Market is the largest historic market
in the country, a 4.5-acre celebration of the freshest, most wholesome fruits,
vegetables, specialty foods, art and music, all undeniably Detroit.
According to Wikipedia, The market presently covers 43 acres and is the largest
historic public market district in the United States.[3] Eastern Market is a selling point for a wide variety of
produce, meat, spice and other products. It is particularly busy on Saturdays,
when farmers tend to bring in their poultry and livestock, along with fresh produce, for sale.
Although the market is
in the largest historic public market district in the U.S., the market itself
is operated by the private sector though a public-private partnership with the
Eastern Market Corporation. The Eastern Market Corporation has operated the property
since 2006. The Market allows for more than 150 vendors in the peak months.
“The
freshest, most nourishing foods, and choices so vast you could go for months
without making the same meal twice.” “Today, Eastern Market embodies the heart
and soul of Detroit, with an unwavering commitment to put the finest,
healthiest foods on the tables of Detroit homes and restaurants.” According to the Eastern Market website
For Gary and Dawn Lauber, baking sweet treats is nothing
out of the ordinary. The Laubers have been bringing their company, Sweet
Delights Bakery, to Eastern Market for 7 years, with no thoughts of leaving any
time soon.
According
to the Eastern Market website, the overall objective of Eastern Market
Corporation's economic development strategy is to capitalize on our attractions
and our legacy to create a vibrant and diverse urban district in central Detroit.
The
Eastern Market has been a valuable keystone of Detroit for more than a century,
offering residents the freshest produce and specialty foods from Southeastern
Michigan, Northern Ohio and Ontario, Canada.
“The Peanut Butter cookie is what started it all” stated
Lauber. I have always loved to bake, I would make these cookies all the time.”
Said Gary. “Gary would make these peanut butter cookies for bake sales,
everyone would tell him that they were amazing and to open up a bakery, and one
day we just did it.” Stated Dawn
“Bake sales led to the company, I have always wanted to
open up a Bakery. Bake sales, school events, and anytime I could bake them, I
would.” Stated Gary “Like I said, I have always wanted to open up a bakery, I
just never thought it would actually happen, but I am so happy that it did.”
Said Gary
“We started the bakery in 1999, getting the equipment was
hard, we paid for everything on our own, and it’s just the two of us,
everything is homemade, we use Michigan made products, all fresh.” Stated Dawn
Having been Michigan residents all of their lives, the
Lauders felt it right to expand their business to Detroit. Originally they are
based in Bay City, MI. They now come to Eastern Market every weekend, and are
planning to open up another store in the Roseville area.
“We have sold our products are other markets throughout
the years, but we do significantly better here at the Eastern market. That’s’
why we have been vendors here for 7 years and are thinking of opening a
building in Detroit.” Stated Gary
“Our daughter worked with us until she graduated college,
so now it’s the two of us again. We’re looking for a building somewhere in
between Roseville and Detroit to be closer to our daughter. We also want it to
be a building that could use some love.” Stated Dawn
“We started the Bakery, and we are keeping it alive for
our daughter, in hopes that she will take it over one day.” Stated Dawn
Before opening up Sweet Delights Bakery, Gary worked at
Sears for 29 years. He was just on the verge of retiring when they came up with
the idea to open up their bakery.
“If we miss a Saturday at the Market, we get complaints
that we weren’t here. If we run out of a certain dessert, they get upset,
basically if we have to come every Saturday with all we have.” Stated Gary
Sweet Delights Bakery’s most popular treats are, the
Peanut Butter cookie, the M&M cookie, and homemade pretzels.
After the Laubers open up another building for their
bakery, they plan on making the necessary steps to become certified to sell
diabetic treats. They still have to go through all of the licensing, get more
equipment, and make new diabetic friendly recipes.
The Laubers are in the same shed every Saturday, which is
shed number 6, so their consistent customers know exactly where they are going
to be. With their table full of all different kinds of desserts, and smiles on
their faces, the customers just keep coming back for more every week.
“Right now we have
no debt, we owe no money to anyone, and all of our equipment is ours. We have
plans for the future that we should be able to afford, things are good.” Stated
Gary. “We hope our plans will happen sooner rather than later, we are very
excited for what the future has in store for us and our family.” Stated Dawn
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