Sister Pie’s Next Big Move Is a Cafe and Grocery Store

Sister Pie, the beloved West Village neighborhood bakery, has a new location in the works. Owner Lisa Ludwinski tells Crain’s she’s signed a letter of intent to lease property at 8110 Mack Ave. with plans to open a cafe, grocery store, and kitchen to support an expanded baking class schedule.

It’s the biggest step yet for Ludwinski who started Sister Pie in 2012 out of her parent’s kitchen in Milford, Michigan. She eventually opened her pie shop in a 900-square-foot corner space at the corner of Kercheval Avenue and Parker Street. Sister Pie’s sensational baked goods, soups, and salads quickly made it a mecca for pastry lovers both in and outside of Detroit. A 2015 Eater Young Gun, Ludwinski released her first cookbook last year.

However, as Sister Pie grew it’s bakery location became less certain. Ludwinski was approached in fall 2017 about purchasing Sister Pie’s building from its owners as it was being listed for sale. Ludwinski told Eater at the time that the bakery had been without a lease for its space since September 2016, and was uncertain if she could piece the funds together to make a major property investment. She had also begun the process of looking for new potential locations in the event that Sister Pie lost its space.

Stock Detroit/Michelle and Chris Gerard

The second location on Mack Avenue, not far from the Commons cafe and laundromat, spans 8,000-square-feet, according to Crain’s. Ludwinski is still in the process of tracking down funding for the renovation and equipment. Plans call for a 35-seat cafe with savory breakfast and lunch items like quiche, sandwiches, and soups. Additionally, Sister Pie on Mack would feature a store with grab-and-go salads and sandwiches, as well as staples like eggs, milk, butter, and more. Ludwinski, who was recently named a finalist for a James Beard Award, would also like to expand Sister Pie’s capacity to host its wildly popular cooking classes.

If all goes according to schedule, Sister Pie’s second outpost could debut in 2020. Stay tuned for more updates as the project moves forward.

• Detroit Bakery Sister Pie Outlines Its Evolution: 2nd Location With Cafe, Groceries, Classes and More [Crain’s]
• All Sister Pie Coverage [ED]
• All Coming Attractions Coverage [ED]