This Grand Rapids Bakery and Restaurant Is Closing—For Now

After just a year and a half of serving up flaky pastries, fresh-baked bread, and dishes inspired by the owners' Balkan roots, a Grand Rapids bakery and restaurant is closing its doors—at least for the time being.

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Buka Bakehouse opened in January 2024 at 888 Forest Hills Ave. SE, a labor of love from brothers Bujar and Agim Selimi. The two launched the business to honor their heritage and bring a unique flavor to the local food scene.

According to Crain's Grand Rapids, the brothers fled Kosovo in 1997 with their family, seeking refuge in America during the Yugoslav Wars. In 1998, the family moved to West Michigan.

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The menu at Buka Bakehouse was filled with artisan breads, savory burek, Turkish-style pide, pizza, and hearty breakfast dishes, all inspired by their Balkan upbringing.

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But now, the brothers say it's time to pause and regroup.

In a heartfelt message shared to Facebook, they shared,

We have some bittersweet news to share: after a lot of reflection, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our bakery in this location for the time being. The space we gathered in was too big for our needs, and we simply couldn’t keep up with the high cost of rent.

While the Forest Hills location is closing, Bujar and Agim aren’t giving up on the dream. They’ve launched a GoFundMe campaign in hopes of starting fresh in a new, smaller space in Forest Hills

While our ovens are off for now, our dream is far from over—and with your help, we believe we can bring Buka back.
We’re launching a GoFundMe because we want to build something new—a fresh start for our bakery in a smaller location in Forest Hills, with the same heart, same recipes, and the same commitment to handmade, high-quality baked goods.

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If you’d like to swing by one last time, Buka Bakehouse will be selling pastries only through 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 28.