GRAND RAPIDS,Mich., May 16, 2013 - Grand Rapids Downtown Market, an all-new destination for local food innovation, education, and experimentation today announced that Sweetie-licious, the renowned bakery café in DeWitt, Mich. will expand with a second location in the Grand Rapids Downtown Market.
Owned and operated by Linda Hundt for more than eight years, Sweetie-licious specializes in pies and other sweet confections and has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including the 2011 Crisco 100th Anniversary Innovation award and winning The Food Network’s “Amazing Pie Challenge.”
“I’ve been asked by many people to expand or relocate to a major market city, but expanding to Grand Rapids has been a long-time dream. The city and foodie culture and now the Downtown Market makes the city a perfect fit for my second store,” said Hundt.
Hundt has been featured in numerous national and regional television segments, magazine and newspapers including the Today show, Country Living, Midwest Living, and Parade. She is a sought-after keynote speaker on topics including, business, life and love, as well as giving pie-baking demonstrations for hundreds of people at a time.
“West Michigan’s food culture is attracting numerous interesting and creative food artisans from outside of the region, and we are thrilled the Downtown Market will become the focal point that brings them all together,” said Mimi Fritz, president and CEO of the Market. “Linda’s bakery and café has helped turn DeWitt into a destination and we expect her baked goods and relationship with our other vendors will have a similar influence on our Market Hall.”
The vision of the Downtown Market is to become the anchor for a Market District within the Heartside neighborhood, as well to serve as a community-gathering place that reflects the diversity and creativity of Grand Rapids and southwest Michigan.
The Downtown Market follows a long tradition of urban markets that were once central components to the food systems in American cities. Today these emerging markets foster positive relationships among diverse groups of people, promote artisan food entrepreneurs and their crafts, encourage sustainable food production, and promote healthy living.
The Market is scheduled to open in August 2013.