avalon international breads
glassdoor has 0 avalon international breads office photos to give you an inside look at what it is like to work at avalon international breads. browse photos to learn about avalon international breads offices and culture .
jackie victor co - founder of avalon international breads and detroit lover, food enthusiast .
glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it' s like to work at avalon international breads, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. this is the avalon international breads company profile. all content is posted anonymously by employees working at avalon international breads .
the average salary for avalon international breads is $ 83, 159 per year, ranging from $ 52, 326 to $ 102, 837. compare more salaries for avalon international breads at paysa. com .
avalon international breads co - founder and ceo jackie victor on dec. 18 announces a new location in downtown detroit .
one of detroit’s favorite bakeshops avalon international breads is in expansion mode. the company is bringing its signature organic breads, pastries, and cookies to ann arbor this month .
avalon international breads is a “right livelihood business” which means that we have three bottom lines that inform every aspect of our business .
ann arbor, mi - the latest venture of detroit - based avalon international breads is opening this week in downtown ann arbor .
the display case at avalon international bread' s flagship store in detroit' s midtown .
avalon international breads of midtown detroit announced this week it is opening a
hearth and soul
cafe at 1049 woodward at state in downtown detroit .
the popular cass corridor - based avalon international breads is preparing to open its new
hearth and soul cafe
in downtown detroit to the public friday .
avalon international breads, the popular midtown coffeeshop and bakery, is opening a cafe this summer to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in the heart of downtown .
wildflour was one of the seeds that grew and became avalon international breads, victor said, and influenced the decision to open the bakery in a struggling detroit neighborhood .
it is also a bridge between ann arbor and detroit, and between victor' s roots as a university of michigan alum and her continued leadership of avalon international breads .
detroit rising, quite literally: avalon breads open $ 2. 2 million facility on city’s east side
there were a series of events that led to the “epiphany” of opening avalon international breads, victor says over coffee at avalon’s storefront café located in the production facility, which was once a warehouse on the east side of detroit .
jackie victor and ann perrault of detroit' s avalon international breads serve organic baked goods to inner - city residents and a daytime crowd of commuting suburbanites, wayne state university staff and students .
“we didn’t have mba’s. we weren’t bakers. everything we learned came from our customers. ” – jackie victor, co - founder of avalon international breads click the link to read jackie’s story !
in june of 1997, we pulled the first loaves of bread out of our newly installed hearthstone oven in a small, converted storefront in the cass corridor of detroit: avalon international breads was born .
avalon international breads opened its first location in june 1997 at 422 w. willis st. in detroit, and has since expanded with 50, 000 - sqaure - foot bakery outlet where hundreds of loaves of breads and assorted pastries are made fresh daily and transported around southeastern michigan .
in 1997 ann perrault and her then - partner jackie victor opened an organic bakery in the economically stricken cass corridor district of detroit, mich. fourteen years later, avalon international breads—and the neighborhood it calls home—are thriving .
detroit - a couple enjoying a snack outside avalon international breads in detroit' s midtown / cass corridor neighborhood monday said several people had pulled up to shop at goodwells natural food market next door and wondered what happened .
for the entire month of february, detroit - based avalon international breads will share proceeds with nonprofit alternatives for girls, a nonprofit that offers support to homeless and at - risk women through prevention, shelter, and outreach programs .
ann arbor, mi - avalon international breads, a detroit - based bakery, is bringing sourdough loaves and handcrafted sweets to ann arbor with the opening of a cafe - style retail location in the former mezzevino mediterranean kitchen and bar .
franco, detroit, a public relations firm, has been named agency of record for automotivemastermind, an analytics and marketing automation technology provider in new york, n. y. ; and avalon international breads, detroit. website: urltoken .
jackie victor is a founder and the chief executive officer of avalon international breads and said she is excited for the ann arbor community to see the cafe, which includes a coffee bar and dining room that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch .
avalon international breads has been working hard on revitalizing a 50, 000 square foot warehouse to house the bakery’s growing wholesale, retail business as well as baking facilities. the $ 2. 2 million dollar project will in time double their detroit workforce .
avalon hearth and soul cafe and kitchen is officially opening its doors at 7 a. m. thursday, dec. 15. the 5, 200 - square - foot cafe is the latest addition for the detroit - based bakery avalon international breads, known for using 100 percent organic flour in its baked goods .
when finney mentioned that avalon international breads, a popular detroit bakery, was having trouble getting finances for an expansion, gilbert offered his support. he suggested forum attendee and business partner josh linkner of detroit venture partners llc, agree to cut avalon co - owner ann perrault a check for $ 2 million before the forum concluded .
“at one school i was hiring from, i had to get rid of most of the people that i hired from that school because they didn’t know the poundage or how to read recipes or anything like that, ” tony johnson said. he’s the human resources manager for avalon international breads .
downtown has 50, 000 people within a 5 - minute walk of our space, and those people need healthy food for the day, to feed their minds and bodies, and (we) want to be a part of that ,
said jackie victor, co - founder and ceo of avalon international breads .
though the couple has parted ways, avalon international breads continues to prosper as the only bakery in southeast michigan to use 100 percent organic flour. plus, with many of their products now available at grocery stores and restaurants throughout michigan, ladies across the great lakes state can savor the sweet taste of the bakery’s success. (urltoken )
guest blogger: lisa gottlieb jackie victor, co - owner of avalon international bread, holding a plate of challah praline french toast. melanie adams, with jolly pumpkin’s maggie long. avalon staff curtis wooter, elizabeth jahl, jackie vector, lesley o’connel, emma o’connel, lauren trendler …
from the start, marc and matt expressed a commitment to supporting local businesses at their new venture. before they opened their doors, the jonnas approached avalon to feature avalon' s products in plum' s bakery. over the past 5 years, the avalon brand has grown alongside the plum brand. now all three plum bakeries feature not only avalon breads but avalon' s sweets as well, emphasizing the popular vegan line. avalon' s blueberry muffins have somewhat of a cult following amongst the plum clientele, especially in the bloomfield hills store. plum customers buy avalon sea salt chocolate chip cookies by the dozen, literally .
sure the showtime premiere of twin peaks revival aired last night, but there’s still plenty of lynchian excitement in store this week. avalon international breads kicked off a week of twin peaks - themed events and specials on sunday complete with a life - sized log lady, a framed picture of laura palmer, and wanted signs for the still - creepy bob .
detroit, mi - it will be a busy year for avalon international breads. the popular bakery has long outgrown in midtown location, and on friday night, the bakery' s co - founders and others celebrated a
grand bread breaking
for a glistening, 50, 000 - square - foot baking facility at 4731 bellevue on detroit' s east side .
we offer delicious, artisan breads, sweets and baked goods made with 100% organic flour. the hearth and soul of detroit since 1997
avalon international breads, which marks 20 years of being in business this month, certainly helped feed the starter that led to the redevelopment of the neighborhood. there was an effort on multiple fronts to rebrand the area from cass corridor to midtown, including the work of groups like the nonprofit university cultural center association, then later midtown detroit inc. , led by sue mosey .
since 1997, avalon international breads has proudly produced fresh, artisan breads and rustic pastries through old - world practices, using organic grains and flours. run by ann perault, avalon set up a retail space in the midtown / cass corridor neighborhood of detroit and was a large contributor to the revival of the inner - city community. a mission driven company, avalon is a “right livelihood business” which means that they have three bottom lines that inform every aspect of the business: earth, community and the employees. avalon now employees a diverse staff, where 45 people from myriad backgrounds, races, skills and resources work' round the clock in a mere 2, 000 square feet, creating the best products possible with dedication, humor and warmth .
avalon has become a huge fan plum market' s amazing team and their commitment to quality and sustainability. the staff is both knowledgeable about baked goods in general and dedicated to supporting avalon and other local bakeries. you can find a full selection avalon' s packaged breads in the bakery aisle and an impressive array of avalon' s fresh sweets behind the bakery counter. avalon drivers deliver before dawn, while the plum staff are stocking the racks and preparing displays with the eye for detail that makes the jonna model work .
“the food: amazing breads... especially the cherry walnut and the oatmeal cookies... to die for. ” in 10 reviews
the midtown staple since 1997, avalon international breads expands their facilities feb 23. , 2013 to a 50, 000 sq - foot warehouse on the east side called avalon city ovens
a new craft bakehouse
. a grand - bread baking welcoming was held friday evening with prep tables overflowing with fresh cookies, brownies, strawberries, fresh vegetables, cheese, hummus - and of course bread, lots of bread. (tanya moutzalias | mlive. com )
when they first bought an unfinished detroit storefront in 1997 with the intention of opening up a bakery, the property was, to say the least, quite a fixer upper. the future site of avalon international breads lacked lighting and working plumbing—not to mention the fact that its location in cass corridor, a blighted neighborhood in the city’s midtown area, might have deterred less optimistic business owners .
’m always energetic and in good spirits on days when i stop by avalon .
breads ok, help ok, do not go there with a pet or to get food for breakfast, all premade, old and dried out .
avalon international breads - when co - founders jackie victor and ann perrault first opened their bakery in midtown detroit, they set three bottom lines that reflected their ethics :
right relationship with the earth, right relationship with the employees and right relationship with the community .
since then, they have been walking the walk to live up to their motto :
eat well, do good .
it’s 8: 30 a. m. and avalon international breads in detroit’s cass corridor is a beehive of activity. a perpetual line forms behind a glass counter showcasing piles of organic rolls, cookies and focaccia pizzas. the scent of hot coffee and fresh bread fills the air. behind stacks of crusty loaves, workers roll dough, plop fresh michigan jams onto sticky pastries and tuck sprouts into sandwiches .
the log lady at avalon cafe & bakery in downtown detroit. courtesy of robin runyun
the avalon founders saw potential, even if their idea seemed crazy at the time .
seasonal vegetables, cheese, herbs, and avalon bread mixed with eggs and baked .
kale massaged with our housemade caesar dressing and topped with avalon croutons and parmesan cheese .
the work to start avalon started just two summers prior at stonehouse breads in leland, mi, where we spent nights baking bread and days struggling to keep our eyes open, laboriously writing our business plan. we headed back to detroit that fall, energized about the craft of traditional sourdough breads, and passionate about our completed plan for a bakery with three bottom lines: earth, community, employees .
both promotions apply to any avalon location. additionally, a portion of all valentine' s day proceeds from avalon' s midtown and ann arbor locations will go toward afg .
“our phenomenal expansion into grocery stores, restaurants, cafes and new retail outlets has far exceeded the capacity of our original 2, 000 square foot production and retail flagship store (422 w. willis), ” said ann perrault, president and ceo of avalon international breads. “as the city of detroit continues its renaissance, avalon is also growing into this formerly - vacant manufacturing facility and will create much - needed jobs for the area, as well as providing a space to support other small businesses as they grow. ”
beebe says she and many of her associates go out of their way to patronize avalon .
sweet baked goods just pulled from the oven. kyresha lefever manages avalon' s bakehouse .
the avalon community extends far beyond the ovens at 4731 bellevue. we invite you to look for avalon products at these quality merchants where you live and work. by patronizing these locally - owned businesses, you can enjoy avalon products and strengthen the local economy as well .
avalon pie crust filled with eggs, cream, spices, and seasonally - rotating filling .
excellent pastries and breads using organic and locally sourced ingredients. bread here is always served fresh. whenever i have people coming over i always get my bread here beforehand .
avalon has become a staple in metro detroit since their first loaf of bread in 1997. the bakery supplies numerous restaurants and cafes, with their organic breads and goodies. if you have ever been to places like mae’s in pleasant ridge, vinology in ann arbor, chez zara in detroit (amongst others), you have had avalon bread or sweets .
please leave your favorite stories of avalon, plum, or any other thoughts in the comments below .
it’s important to note that this new warehouse will be the center for its artisan production, and avalon’s first storefront at 422 w. willis in the midtown area will stay open as their flagship store where you can get your sea salt chocolate chip cookies, soups, breads, and much more .
jackie victor is avalon' s ceo. she and ann perrault co - founded the bakery in 1997 .
corned beef, swiss cheese and a black peppered egg on avalon' s flakiest sea salt buttermilk biscuit .
avalon has been in midtown since 1997 and continues to operate at 422 west willis street near cass avenue .
avalon bakery is hands down one of the best bakeries i have ever been to. they have something for everyone. pop in for breakfast, lunch, a snack, or grab something to take home. they offer an amazing variety of breads, sweets, salads, coffees and teas... .
now along with the fresh bread and sweets you can get at plum everyday you can also get your vob passports filled out by the stickers now being found on breads at all three locations. as the passport is stamped, you can earn unique avalon vob
shwag
and also enter a drawing for the first ever underground vob food tour, featuring the fantastic local restaurants that offer avalon breads. . more information can be found here. what better way to reward customers of one of the best locally sourced grocery stores in the metro area than to show them some of the best restaurants in the area as well ?
this place was recommended and so glad checked it out - have been there now on a few occasions when in detroit. great salads and amazing breads and bakery items - good coffee and juice selection too .
when avalon began, our greatest aspiration was to become an inspiration to others. now, our customers, our employees and the community are inspiring us as we find new ways of fulfilling avalon’s mission: eat well. do good .
tending to the starter is a precise process, one that curtis wooten, production manager at avalon, knows well .
detroit’s unemployment rate is about double that of the state as a whole. lots of people are out of work. but hiring people who can do the job has not always been easy. applicants who interviewed well didn’t always have the literacy or math skills necessary to make the breads, cakes, and cookies, explained kyresha lefever. she manages avalon’s bakehouse .
avalon’s owners say they’ll keep hiring people from detroit because that’s what you do when you want to be part of the community .
in march, business insider named detroit' s avalon best bakery in the state, based on a study of foursquare reviews .
avalon has also been recognized nationally for its vegan carrot cake as one of the top 10 vegan sweet treats listed by peta .
they also have their own café in the henry ford hospital’s west grand blvd. building called the “eat well. do good café. ” the cafe name comes from avalon’s motto, “eat well. do good. ” it’s the key to avalon’s success .
she was inspired to return to ann arbor with avalon after her experience working at wildflour community bakery while attending the university of michigan .
within the first year the grocer opened along woodward avenue, avalon experienced a $ 350, 000 drop in revenue, says perrault .
avalon bakehouse outlet + office • 4731 bellevue • detroit, mi 48207 • 313. 308. 0150 • hours of operation: mon - fri: 8 am - 4 pm avalon international breads • 422 w. willis • detroit, mi 48201 • 313. 832. 0008 hours of operation: mon - sat: 6 am - 6 pm • sun: 8 am - 4 pm avalon cafe + bakery • 1049 woodward ave. • detroit, mi 48226 • 313. 285. 8006 hours of operation: mon - thu: 7 am - 10 pm • fri: 7 am - 12 am sat: 8 am - 12 am • sun: 8 am - 10 pm avalon cafe + biscuit bar • 2990 w. grand blvd • detroit, mi 48202 • 313. 800. 5760 • hours of operation: mon - fri: 7 am - 6 pm • sat: 8 am - 2 pm • closed sun avalon cafe + kitchen • 120 e. liberty • ann arbor, mi 48104 • 734. 263. 2996 hours of operation: mon - thu: 7 am - 8 pm • fri: 7 am - 9 pm sat: 8 am - 9 pm • sun: 8 am - 8 pm
yet, despite paying a 30 percent tax rate when income, sales, equipment and other taxes are added together, avalon is succeeding .
from that small storefront in cass corridor –now called midtown - the folks at avalon have added another retail site at henry ford hospital. more recently, avalon opened a production facility called a bakehouse, to supply retailers. it’s in an industrial area near the abandoned packard automobile factory .
richard watson has worked for avalon for more than a decade. he lives in detroit and he’s grateful companies like avalon are offering opportunities in the city. as he was preparing dough to head for the ovens, he said he' s happy about finding a job in the city .
that could also mean seeing avalon products showing up at more markets and restaurants throughout the area, something victor called a
wonderful byproduct .
in 2013, avalon opened a 50, 000 - square - foot baking facility on the city' s east side that employs dozens more workers .
perrault was raised in grosse ille and inkster before relocating to detroit when she turned 19 to attend wayne state university. she didn’t finish her degree in recreational therapy, opting to open avalon after an internship at saginaw valley state university. that was after she met avalon co - founder jackie victor .
avalon pulled the first loaves out of the oven at its cass corridor bakery in 1997. people thought it was crazy to start an organic bakery in a city that was suffering, in a neighborhood that had seen better days. jackie victor is the ceo and one of the co - founders of avalon .
the 2, 900 - square - foot
hearth and soul
cafe at 1049 woodward ave. will include breads, pastries, sandwiches and coffee in addition to healthy, seasonal meal options from an executive chef, according to a joint news release from avalon and bedrock real estate services. it' s expected to be open by summer with 25 new jobs at the new location, which is on the southwest corner of state and woodward .
the company is only awaiting an occupancy permit, but should be up and running there within a few weeks, avalon co - founder ann perrrault told mlive .
they quickly established themselves as a “gathering spot for bread lovers, ” as a 1998 free press article put it, with avalon attracting a diverse customer base .
everybody' s been asking all day ,
said tristan taylor, who works at next - door avalon, about the would - be goodwells customers .
in a city where gourmet foods and good atmosphere are hard to find, avalon provides a mecca for the detroit gastronome. in its sixth year, avalon bustles nearly all the time — it’s a place to see and be seen. you’re just as likely to spot anarchists and hippies as yuppies, soccer moms and professionals .
but, the avalon owners still want to hire as many neighbors as they can. the company has changed how it hires. instead of just an interview, applicants are invited to do a working interview, actually go out on the floor and mix up a batch of muffins or some other baked good using avalon’s recipe .
at the coffee bar, baristas serve up specially - created lattes or cups of a special blend called hearth and soul created especially for the cafe by mighty good coffee. the ann - arbor based coffee business also created avalon' s willis street blend and customized an espresso machine personalized for avalon hearth and soul cafe and kitchen .
the philosophy that fuels the company is just as wholesome as the food it sells. perrault and victor opened avalon using the buddhist “right livelihood” business model, which emphasizes community, earth - friendly practices and a fierce dedication to employees. from the get go, perrault and victor have offered fair wages, benefits and health insurance to avalon employees. many of these employees are cass corridor residents, which reflects the pair’s efforts to integrate avalon into a struggling neighborhood without alienating or excluding any of the locals .
beattie and long worked alongside each other to finalize the menu and prepare kitchen staff for the opening of avalon hearth and soul cafe and kitchen. long wanted to help create a space where families could share a meal, and patrons feel a sense of community, and said she feels she has succeeded with avalon hearth and soul cafe and kitchen .
perrault’s been up since dawn to supervise the arduous craft of old world bread making. as she dumps huge bags of flour, water and salt into a 260 pound - capacity italian dough mixer, she explains the rigors of producing 475 loaves of breads and baguettes most days — 2, 000 loaves on fridays and saturdays .
the space for avalon hearth and soul cafe and kitchen opened up after mezzevino, 120 e. liberty, announced its closure in october. the restaurant opened in june 2014 .
but with a lot of hard work—and a lot of organic flour—perrault and victor have managed to turn avalon into a veritable midtown institution. the bakery currently sees more than 1, 000 customers each day, with people braving long lines just to buy avalon’s signature loaves, like their pontchartrain pumpernickel, motown multigrain and even their healthy version of wonder bread .
plum market is not your average specialty food store. but then again, the jonna family is not your average family. starting with a single party store in suburban detroit, the jonna family built a highly successful wine and specialty grocery business in metro detroit and ann arbor: the merchant of vino stores. in 1997, when ann and jackie started avalon breads, the merchant of vino store in troy was one of it' s first customers .
i remember dropping off bread when we barely had packaging
recalls victor .
from day 1, the bread flew off the shelf. we always enjoyed working with the jonna family and their clientele has always appreciated avalon products
this isn’t the first time avalon has transformed into tv show diner. last fall, the willis cafe hosted a gilmore girls - themed luke’s diner pop - up in honor of the show’s netflix revival. unlike that event, avalon’s twin peaks week isn’t a promotion developed by showtime but rather something the detroit - based bakery came up with on its own .
the oven is rolling out treats for tomorrow. come celebrate with avalon tomorrow during the grand opening from 4: 00 to 8: 00pm. 4731 bellevue at forrest in detroit .
she thinks the unorthodox business approach has had its own reward. people are drawn to the company because they believe avalon is actually following its motto, “eat well; do good. ”
at the eastside facility, avalon is the latest tenant on a block that has a metal finishing company and an artist collective, among others, in an otherwise sparsely populated area of detroit .
for the debut of two stunning short films about avalon and city living detroit before their nationwide release. afterwards, stick around for a short q & a with jackie, ann and austin .
usually companies just hire from anywhere. ceo jackie victor says she and co - founder ann perrault knew from the beginning that avalon was not just about commodities and profit margins. yes, avalon has to be profitable, but victor says the company follows a triple - bottom line principle: earth, community, and employees. for them, that means being eco - friendly, buying local produce, paying their employees above minimum wage, and providing health insurance. jackie victor says the company’s accountants don’t always think avalon is nearly as profitable as it could be. she’s okay with that .
at the “bench, ” as it’s called in the bakery, richard watson, 21, and rasheida mcelvene, 27, are cutting and rolling dough. watson says avalon was his first detroit job .
ninety percent of their 56 employees are detroit residents. when it started, rather than put jobs ads in the newspapers, avalon always kept it local, letting their neighbors know when they were hiring .
avalon is known for its use of 100 percent organic flour and a range of gluten - free products, along with wholesale business partnerships with natural and organic grocers, markets and restaurants throughout southeast michigan .
part of avalon' s recipe for doing' good' comes from 14 - year - old pleasanton. grabowski said the avalon owners
shaped their first loaves
at pleasanton while creating a business plan and before continuing their bread education at stone house bread in leland. victor said she and perrault are inspired by, and are friends with, grabowski and shireman, whom they met at activist events .
years later, after living in detroit and working as a political activist, she met perrault through mutual friends. they were running the monthly detroit women’s coffeehouse, and they wanted to collaborate on something else together, eventually leading them to open the bakery. they apprenticed at stone house breads in leland and spent a year developing a business plan. they secured startup capital from friends and family .
“i can hardly remember life before avalon, ” says elena herrada, a resident of corktown who works in southfield. “ann and jackie, all the avalon family, are absolute concrete proof that a local business can flourish in the heart of the city; that people can eat healthy food in the inner - city neighborhoods; that we can become self - reliant without chain stores and corporations, if we choose to. ”
jackie victor helped found and currently leads the company as its chief executive officer, and said the avalon hearth and soul cafe and kitchen would be open by the end of the year at 129 e. liberty street .
the kitchen will also do a full brunch spread, featuring whole - grain pancakes and breakfast sandwiches using avalon baked goods. victor is working closely with maggie long from jolly pumpkin cafe & brewery to create the menu .
the cass corridor food co - op health - food store is credited as a pioneering retailer in the neighborhood. when avalon opened in 1997, it brought new foot traffic. since then, numerous businesses have popped up .
avalon has had some help in making this happen. their partners in the loan to make this project a reality include invest detroit, michigan economic development corporation, whole foods, the small business administration and main street bank .
before opening avalon, perrault and victor took classes in ann arbor from larkin, who coached them through the first year of business. larkin’s theory teaches entrepreneurs to integrate business priorities with personal, spiritual, community and environmental values .
good food, good bread, let' s eat! putting the finishing touches on the food for tonight. 4: 00 to 8: 00 at the new avalon city ovens, 4731 bellevue. hope to see you .
“i have a huge interest in supporting small businesses, ” gilbert said. “i’ve heard about avalon and am interested in helping them grow. my partners will discuss details with perrault and see if they can work something out. ”
also this summer, avalon will be moving its retail shop on willis street in midtown to a new location on canfield street. the total cost of the new retail shop and expansions is about $ 2. 2 million, perrault said .
from using and selling organic and local products to paying employees a
living wage
with benefits (including health care), to supporting the community with their
hearth
and nonprofit financial - avalon is
aspiring to inspire .
renovations are planned to turn it from a mediterranean - themed restaurant to bring in elements of avalon' s aesthetic, with reclaimed furniture and salvaged architectural finds that victor called
down - to - earth, accessible, warm and inviting .
over 60 percent of the company' s wholesale business is in ann arbor, victor said, and she sees a continued demand for avalon products. the new location could serve as a benefit for other businesses in the area, she added .
avalon is on wheels! these wheels, however, are not just rolling through the d. they’re attached to the food carts at mark’s carts in the courtyard next to downtown home and garden on ashley at washington in downtown ann arbor. …
as the sticky goo feeds on itself, it will double in volume in 24 hours. it’s combined with other ingredients and baked into bread in avalon’s 10, 000 - pound steam - injected oven. then, the process starts all over again .
for years, perrault says, avalon strived to emphasize a healthier lifestyle for detroiters that included a focus on urban farms, organic products, composts, and recycling programs — “to really live differently in a different way that detroiters were living before. ”
stockings personalized with employee names hang from a nearby wall, and glistening snowflakes hang from the ceiling and light fixtures throughout the space. a display is set up near the entrance with themed gift boxes and avalon merchandise just in time for the upcoming holiday .
welcome to the avalon community’s new home away from home: our uniquely - overdue website and eat well. do good cafe. why would one of the “top 100 inner city businesses in the us” wait until 2010 to go viral? we didn’t. really !
it feels wonderful ,
said joanne bower, general manager of avalon hearth and soul cafe and kitchen, about finally opening the space in the former mezzevino mediterranean kitchen and bar .
we feel like we' re back in our element again .
we are excited about not only bringing avalon baked goods... but also going a little bit further and taking this passion and enthusiasm and having a cafe setting that features our bread and a focus on locally - grown food ,
victor said .
avalon has made a nice reputation for itself across the region, especially for the bakery’s decision to open at a time when businesses were leaving detroit. today, being situated in the thriving midtown district has, perhaps surprisingly, proved to be a challenging experience .
vegan is the new delicious! avalon’s vegan are now featured at all 5 michigan whole foods markets bakeries: ann arbor stores 990 w. eisenhower parkway, ann arbor, mi 48103 3135 washtenaw ave. , ann arbor, mi 48104 detroit area stores 2918 …
“it’s the development of little ideas that all connect, ” he said. “it’s about self - interest. for instance, it’s in dan’s self - interest to make it work with avalon. ” what it all comes down to is putting plans to action .
employees commitment to the health and well being of our employees means fair wages, good benefits and an environment that encourages growth. by working at a “right livelihood business, ” all of us at avalon benefit from an opportunity to live a life bigger than ourselves .
david myers is one of the founders of mighty good coffee and said the partnership with avalon has been a lot of fun. coffee beans used in the hearth and soul blend come from jardin, colombia, myers said ,
a town surrounded by coffee .
the two headed north in the mid - 1990s to work at various bakeries, including stone house bread cafe in the city of leland, where they crafted their business plan. eventually, avalon launched on a tight - knit block off the cass corridor in 1997 .
it' s not a moment too soon, because in the coming months avalon will be the main supplier of baked goods for a new whole foods retail store opening in midtown later this year. this summer, the company will also begin supplying plum market in chicago .
avalon bakery is a place you must experience at least once when you visit detroit. the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and food is freshly made in the ovens just behind the counter. the street where this business is located is a popular hotspot for ...
both pleasanton and avalon share a passion for organic and locally - grown ingredients. buying organic promotes healthy growing practices, buying locally helps area farmers and reduces transportation and fuel costs, and baking in wood - fired brick ovens, instead of gas, uses a renewable resource .
victor wanted avalon to help spark a renaissance in the corridor. it has, to some degree. but movement is slow. rents are high; city incentives for small entrepreneurs are nearly nonexistent. spaces haven’t been renovated in 15 years, which makes them expensive to build out .
from the recycled metal signage throughout the business, to the display case made of reclaimed wood now stuffed full of avalon products, the hearth and soul cafe and kitchen serves as a reminder of the company' s triple bottom line, victor said: earth, community and employees .
she' s not alone. forty - five - year - old toronto journalist geoff heinricks started a vineyard when he felt a now - or - never scenario was at hand. michael lansky, 50, ditched the life of a real - estate developer to devote himself to artisanal food, founding what is now vancouver' s terra breads. in toronto, karen and glen cosburn ended careers in psychology (hers) and banking (his) to open a funky n' awlins - style little food shop, cajun corner .
the avalon office is the size of a walk in closet. two computers and two phones are constantly in use by up to 5 people who answer questions, take orders, generate production numbers and financials, create invoices, pay bills, and manage a staff of 45. good music
a representative for avalon tells eater hearth & soul cafe will launch in ann arbor by mid - december with the downtown detroit restaurant slated to follow in early 2017. the restaurant is expected to offer pastries and coffee as well as a full - service breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu .
“i’m a community based person, ” she said. “in order to flourish, we need to build more relationships at all levels. that’s what it means to create a local growth economy. ” as for the $ 2 million loan, it could be in the works for avalon soon .
since 1997, avalon has undergone some changes of its own: in 2008 the bakery relocated to a spacious site around the corner, and expanded their menu to include pastries (many of which are vegan), artisan coffee and seasonal dishes­—all made using organic, local and sustainable ingredients whenever possible .
after a year at le cordon bleu in paris, there were stints in london and sooke harbour house on vancouver island, before kidd took over the kitchen at araxi in whistler. after three gruelling years, he was ready for another move - - to culinary teaching, at dubrulle international culinary art institute in vancouver - - where a third of new students already have a degree .
i cut my salary in half, but as a result of this decision, i have achieved a balance in my life ,
kidd says .
i see more of my kids, so the rewards are there for this kind of change .
as a detroit visitor, i learned that you won' t find an abundance of restaurants or retail in the downtown area. i was fortunate to stumble across avalon for breakfast. i had the egg, bacon avocado sandwich the first day. it was superb - fresh, yummy, ...
not only do they also work hard to revitalize detroit, they use the most organic flour in the country. and, the new facility to use that flour, dubbed “avalon city ovens, ” is located in a detroit city eastside neighborhood, over on 4731 bellevue (near e. forest) .
in the same vein as the downtown detroit restaurant announced by avalon late last year, the tree city restaurant is dubbed hearth & soul cafe & kitchen. as mlive reported in october, the eatery is taking over the 5, 200 - square - foot former mezzevino space at 129 e. liberty street .
walking into the new location in ann arbor, customers will see a long coffee bar stocked with avalon baked goods and a refrigerated case with grab - and - go items like the green goddess cobb salad and bottled beverages. a variety of spirits are lined up next to a beer tap system featuring michigan breweries .
avalon hearth and soul cafe and kitchen is located at 129 e. liberty street in ann arbor. it is open 7 a. m. to 10 p. m. mondays through thursdays, 7 a. m. to midnight saturdays and 8 a. m. to 10 p. m. sundays .
to many, offering artisan baked goods made with 100% organic flour in the heart of detroit seemed an improbable venture. some looked at detroit and saw economic distress, population exodus, crime, vacant land and abandoned buildings as obstacles too great for a small venture like ours. but we saw the seeds of a transformation, with food growing on vacant land, small businesses filling unmet needs, artists thriving, and neighbors coming together to rebuild, renew and re - spirit the city from the ground up. and we loved the cultural heritage, legendary architecture, and beautiful international riverfront of our city. most of all, we loved the incredible souls of detroiters .
“i mean, how do you make up for that kind of drop? ” she says. “there’s nothing you can do besides take the loss. ” avalon has been able to persevere thanks to a number of pertinent reasons, the least of which being its delicious fare. perrault doesn’t flinch at touting this point .
despite these lofty, costly goals, the bakery has been a business success. avalon started turning a profit its first year, and paid off $ 150, 000 in business loans last year. each year, the business has grown by at least 20 percent, grossing nearly $ 1 million in sales last year, says victor .
today i tried two treats at avalon - the amazon peanut butter brownie and the brown sugar blondie. in my opinion the brownie was nothing special. the blondie, on the other hand, i cannot recommend enough! it was incredible. i' ll definitely be back to try more desserts from the wide selection of homemade baked goods
each bakery has an open production kitchen that grabowski describes as a
living educational tool ,
allowing customers to observe how bread is made. victor said that some of avalon' s young visitors see food prepared for the first time. pleasanton serves as an
incubator kitchen
for others preparing healthy foods for nonprofits and fundraisers .
thanks in part to avalon’s presence, cass corridor has begun to flourish in the last 14 years. streets once lined with abandoned buildings are now home to independent bookstores, boutiques and salons. with public and private enterprises working together to make the midtown area more livable—and profitable—it seems cass corridor is on the brink of a developmental renaissance .
the bakery pays average wages of $ 9 an hour, she says. in addition to providing health care for full - time employees, the bakery will pay medical bills for part - timers in some cases. avalon pays 50 percent for employees who get massage therapy, shares profits with employees twice a year, and is liberal with vacation time .
members: 4 tattoos: 15 favorite avalon food: scallion dill bread (with spaghetti); sea salt chocolate chip cookie favorite part of job: flexibility, understanding, communication least favorite part: lack of sufficient number of totes favorite music: hip hop, old 70' s, r & b team spirit: “we get it done under any circumstances. ”
in 10 years since opening its doors, avalon inspired six new area businesses - all stores independently owned by city residents - and also did well themselves. the bakery' s revenues from wholesale and retail sales have increased eight to ten percent annually. the plan is to move to a larger facility
within sniffing distance
of the present operation by the holidays .
steven price delicately lays sliced zucchini on a focaccia pizza. though trained at a restaurant in grosse pointe park, price’s last job was at popeye’s chicken. he lives around the corner from avalon and is happy to have his job. “a lot of my input was taken in the production of new savory items, ” says price, 34. “that’s really good. ”
as a biochemist for five years, 34 - year - old peter di giallonardo used to spend his days in research and development for drug companies. today, the soft - spoken graduate of the george brown culinary management program heads to toronto' s avalon restaurant to bake parisienne - style bread rolls and artfully made sweets such as bittersweet chocolate caramel tartlet with butterscotch mousse .
the drivers start the first shift each morning, arriving at the bakery well before dawn. there are dozens of restaurant and market orders to check and deliver. the trucks pull out as the retail customers start to pour in, and neither snow nor sleet nor stolen catalytic converters stop our drivers from delivering to avalon bread - heads from east to west and back by noon !
community: from greening of detroit to detroit waldorf school to alternatives for girls, avalon contributes to the community in myriad ways. whenever possible, leftover bread goes to shelters and neighbors in need. we contribute both financially and in - kind to more than 100 organizations and projects per year that match our core values. and, perhaps most importantly, avalon contributes to the community by producing delicious, accessible baked goods with no additives or preservatives in an open production area for all to see. that’s no small feat in a city where 83% of detroiters do not have daily access to fresh foods. additionally, the bakery has become both an entry point for newcomers and visitors to detroit and a gathering place for detroiters. we also employ detroiters, positively contributing to the economy of our city .
jambolayah creative co - op, a clothing and accessory store, opened in avalon’s strip two years ago. now that the food co - op has relocated to charlotte street, the spiral collective — a combination of the del pryor art gallery, a bookstore, a hair salon and a beauty products shop — is assuming the co - op’s space. a coffee and sandwich shop is opening right next door .
avalon is at 422 w. willis, nestled in the heart of the cass corridor, where prostitutes, drug dealers and panhandlers roam among denizens of the night and the university students, artists and professors of the day. owned by perrault and her life partner, jackie victor, the bakery has become a detroit success story and beloved urban enterprise — despite the owners’ insistence on doing absolutely everything the hard way .
after graduating, di giallonardo spent six weeks at avalon fulfilling the voluntary - work segment of the program, and was asked to stay .
nothing could really have prepared me for the actual plunge into a restaurant environment, the pace, the adrenaline rush, the personalities in the kitchen. but i have no regrets, i enjoy coming to work now. i am happy and content ,
he says .
in other expansion news, avalon bakehouse (located at 4731 bellevue on detroit’s east side) now features retail. likewise, the company launched a new quick - grab spot inside detroit metropolitan airport in november. the harvest grounds newsstand is located in the c concourse of the mcnamara terminal and features pastries, grab - and - go sandwiches, and mighty good coffee. stay tuned for updates on the hearth & soul restaurants.
avalon international breads is a bakery located in detroit , michigan , that produces a wide variety of baked goods , including breads , rolls , pizzas , cookies , and pastries , as well as sandwiches and coffee . it was established in june 1997 by ann perrault and jackie victor in detroit 's midtown/cass corridor neighborhood . the bakery serves both individual customers and wholesale clients such as grocery stores and restaurants . avalon international breads adheres to a triple bottom line philosophy , which it interprets as consisting of " earth " , " community " , and " employees " . as of february 2015 , it employs a total of 56 people , 90 % of whom are detroit residents . the bakery has three locations : its original building at 422 w. willis in midtown/cass corridor ; its eat well , do good cafe at henry ford hospital in new center ; and its avalon city ovens production facility on detroit 's east side . financially , the bakery has grown steadily , recording profits of $ 60,000 in 2006 and $ 2.2 million in 2011 . 
avalon international breads is a bakery located in detroit, michigan, that produces a wide variety of baked goods, including breads, rolls, pizzas, cookies, and pastries, as well as sandwiches and coffee. it was established in june 1997 by ann perrault and jackie victor in detroit's midtown/cass corridor neighborhood. the bakery serves both individual customers and wholesale clients such as grocery stores and restaurants. avalon international breads adheres to a triple bottom line philosophy, which it interprets as consisting of " earth ", " community ", and " employees ". as of february 2015, it employs a total of 56 people, 90% of whom are detroit residents. the bakery has three locations: its original building at 422 w. willis in midtown/cass corridor; its eat well, do good cafe at henry ford hospital in new center; and its avalon city ovens production facility on detroit's east side. financially, the bakery has grown steadily, recording profits of $ 60,000 in 2006 and $ 2.2 million in 2011.
avalon international breads is a bakery located in detroit, michigan, that produces a wide variety of baked goods, including breads, rolls, pizzas, cookies, and pastries, as well as sandwiches and coffee. it was established in june 1997 by ann perrault and jackie victor in detroit's midtown/cass corridor neighborhood. the bakery serves both individual customers and wholesale clients such as grocery stores and restaurants. avalon international breads adheres to a triple bottom line philosophy, which it interprets as consisting of " earth ", " community ", and " employees ". as of february 2015, it employs a total of 56 people, 90% of whom are detroit residents. the bakery has three locations: its original building at 422 w. willis in midtown/cass corridor; its eat well, do good cafe at henry ford hospital in new center; and its avalon city ovens production facility on detroit's east side. financially, the bakery has grown steadily, recording profits of $ 60,000 in 2006 and $ 2.2 million in 2011.