A Cupcake Explosion in Ann Arbor!

Hello all!

During the past six months the city of Ann Arbor has experienced a cupcake explosion! What do I mean by this? No, we don't have sprinkles covering the streets and frosting hanging from the trees. Instead, since summer 2008, three different shops have opened in town that all specialize in cupcakes! One of these places is hidden within the neighborhood of the Old West Side. Take a stroll through the West Side (as referred to by locals), and you will find many quaint attractions... one in particular, the Jefferson Market and Cakery!

The Old West Side is riddled with quiet side streets, and this particular shop has been located on Jefferson St, in a picturesque spot across from Bach Elementary School, since the early 1920's. In 2000, Jean Henry and Matt Banks bought this old-fashioned grocery and turned it into a peaceful neighborhood gathering spot, adding the outdoor tables, coffee and sandwich counter in the back. However, approximately two years ago, the store was closed and put up for sale. The owner expressed a wish that she could find someone to carry-on the "piece of Americana" ambiance of the market. After being for sale for over a year, it was bought by Mary Rasmussen, a cake artist from Saline. Jefferson Market and Cakery now opens at 7 a.m. everyday (except Sunday, when they are closed) selling breakfast pastries, cakes, coffee, an array of lunch sandwiches and groceries, including milk, eggs, flowers and cards.

This market is a very popular hangout in the mornings, where in the summer, many people have been spotted drinking their coffee parked at the tables on the sidewalk. Hidden among the chairs and benches outside the market is a dog bowl full of water for those locals who bring their canine friends along. Another charming feature at the store is located under the sandwich counter along the back... a small fairy door. Originally located next to the door outside, the tiny residents found that their entryway was vandalized enough that they eventually moved to the safety of the inside of the store. To read more on these fairies who have taken up residency in Ann Arbor, check out my post: Ann Arbor's Smallest Inhabitants.

Next time you stroll around the Old West Side, I suggest that you stop in for some coffee and a cupcake and enjoy the ambiance of the neighborhood from the tables on the front sidewalk. Have a great week, everyone! I will see you at Jefferson Market and Cakery...I will be the one on the bench by the front step with a cookie in my hand!