Grand Rapids Pop-Up Bakery Fundraises $85,000+ On Kickstarter, Smashes Goal

If you've ever been driving down Lake Dr. SE and Diamond Ave. and witnessed a long line of people wrapped around the East Hills Center, it was likely because people were trying to get a taste of one of CouCou Bakehouse's incredible treats, pastries, or sandwiches. The pop-up bakery has been a certified hit around Grand Rapids, quickly outgrowing its shared space and pop-ups in small businesses.

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So the natural next step was to establish a permanent base of operations, purchase their own equipment, and find the perfect storefront. Many businesses accomplish this by taking out a loan, but CouCou Bakehouse owner Joy Shin ran into a problem: as a green card holder, she is unable to obtain that loan. 

Coucou Bakehouse via Kickstarter

So instead, she turned to the community that waits hours, rain or shine, for her delicacies to help raise funds. The community showed up big time, blowing past the goal in less than a month.

CouCou Bakehouse's Kickstarter Campaign Smashes Goal

On May 5th, Shin posted a lengthy Kickstarter detailing the story of CouCou Bakehouse, its rapid rise in popularity, and what it would take to achieve a brick-and-mortar storefront. The campaign goal was $70,000, with a stretch goal of $100,000.

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What started as a hobby during college has turned into a business that now employs 7 people. With more than just her dream relying on the goal being hit, Shin offered a variety of donation levels with rewards such as merchandise, pastries, an invitation to the soft launch, and more to encourage donations.

Coucou Bakehouse via Kickstarter

Clearly, both the pop-up's popularity and its rewards were more than enough to convince people to donate, as by June 4th, the Kickstarter had reached $86,229, $16,229 above the goal. According to her posted budget, Shin will use the extra funds to pay for items such as architectural fees, rent, starting inventory, and more. It's an incredible feat to raise that much in just 30 days.

The store at 1163 Fulton St., the former home of Mi Bella Guatemala, is aiming for an early August opening. You can follow CouCou's Instagram for updates.