Viral Grand Rapids Pop-Up Bakery Opening First Storefront

A Grand Rapids pop-up bakery that’s built a cult following for its pastries, matcha drinks, and sellout crowds is finally getting a permanent home.

Get our free mobile app

From Apartment Kitchen To Pop-Up Lines

Cou Cou Bakehouse began as a tiny apartment baking project. Now it's become one of the city’s most talked-about food pop-ups, with people showing up early just for a shot at snagging pastries before they sell out. Cou Cou is getting ready to take its biggest step yet: a permanent brick-and-mortar bakery on Fulton Street.

Owner Joy Shin first launched Cou Cou Bakehouse in early 2024 while working a full-time job at a school. A self-taught baker with a background in literature and philosophy, she started making cookies and cakes out of her one-bedroom apartment before taking a chance on her first pop-up in Grand Rapids.

Building a Following Across Grand Rapids

From there, Cou Cou began popping up at coffee shops and small businesses around town, building a loyal following through rotating menus filled with cookies, focaccia sandwiches, donuts, cheesecakes, matcha drinks, and globally inspired flavors that stood out from the usual bakery lineup.

Part of what’s resonated with people here isn’t just the pastries. It’s the story behind them, too. Joy has spoken openly about how food helped create a sense of belonging while living far from home, and that feeling seems woven into the entire concept behind Cou Cou.

UP NEXT: Grand Rapids is Finally Getting a Dave's Hot Chicken

As demand grew, the business moved into Chef Shack, the shared incubator kitchen space that’s helped launch several local food concepts. Even then, the team quickly outgrew the setup, often selling hundreds of items in just a few hours during twice-weekly pop-ups.

👇BELOW: 50+ NEW RESTAURANTS TO CHECK OUT ACROSS WEST MICHIGAN👇

A Permanent Home on Fulton Street

Now, Cou Cou has signed a lease for a small bakery space at 1163 Fulton Street near the Fulton Street Farmers Market.

The new shop is expected to bring expanded hours, more drinks, breakfast offerings, and eventually community-style events like cookbook clubs, cake decorating classes, and small dinners. The team also plans to feature products from local artists and makers inside the space.

To help make the jump into a permanent location, Cou Cou launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund renovations and equipment costs. According to the business, the build-out is expected to cost more than $100,000. To encourage donations, Cou Cou says it has more than 20 rewards available, ranging from limited-edition merch and soft opening RSVPs to a pastry cooking experience with the team.

UP NEXT: Adorable West Michigan Ice Cream Shop for Sale - Price Just Slashed

The brick-and-mortar bakery is expected to open sometime this summer. In the meantime, you can follow Cou Cou Bakehouse on Instagram for updates on the new space and to see where they’ll “pop up” next around Grand Rapids.