Did I step into an old Swiss patisserie in Geneva, Lucerne, or Zurich?
It sure felt like that as I entered this European-inspired Bakery and sipped my coffee while engaging with other patrons. And the unique point is that the theme changes to a different European country each month and I just happened to be there for Switzerland.
CocoBella’s Bakery in St. Clair, Michigan recently opened and what a delight for this community. I was curious about the name and found out it was named after the owner’s daughters.
The building is the former site of Paul’s True Value Hardware, which began in the 1970’s, and while I’m not from this area, I understand it was originally a feed granary serving local farmers more than 80 years ago.
As I sat there enjoying a sense of community, I felt the vibe of those old days – less cars on the road, old timers mingling, and I could only imagine the stories that came from those times. If walls could talk – what would they say?!
History
Today, this space has been re-imagined and there are new stories to tell as the local community continues to come together while us “outsiders” get to experience what was created here. The story on CocoBella’s website says, “we set out to design a bakery that honored the soul of the building and the stories within its walls.”
They truly did accomplish that.
They turned what was from the past into something so beautiful that you couldn’t help but look around and appreciate the beauty, energy, and feel of this space.
The warm and welcoming color of the wood floors capture your attention as you walk in, and the windows are beautiful as they were salvaged and restored from the historic St. Clair Inn. The tin metal ceiling is stunning and adorned with elegant crystal chandeliers. Repurposing these elements made this Bakery even more interesting. The décor is complemented by rattan chairs, marble tables, and a lovely brick enclosed nook for children to read books.
Read more about the history here.
I read that they also had a blue stained-glass window created by a local artist, Donnie Burton of Port Huron, and it’s sitting right above the pastry kitchen. A beautiful original piece for this Bakery.
The pastry kitchen is divided by restored framed windows, and per CocoBella’s site, came from a historic Presbyterian Church in Madison County, NY.
Preservation and restoration are major factors with what CocoBella’s created. Just the idea of taking something from the past, restoring it, and bringing it to new life is so important today. What was old is new again and I’m grateful to have experienced the beauty that surrounded me and the aromas of baked goods.
So, let’s get to that!
Bakery
European music in the background brought me to an Alpine setting and while I didn’t hear any yodeling, I felt transported to the Swiss Alps.
Let’s chat about the pastries and delicious offerings now that you have the full feel of this Bakery.
First, when I arrived it was packed, just like a Saturday morning should be at a bakery café like this. The line was around the bend, so I waited for a table, which became a community table due to being so crowded and that was part of the charm for me.
The display case was filled with delectable pastries, pain au chocolat, fresh baked breads, sandwiches, and beautifully crafted desserts like custard or compote filled lemons, apples, and pears.
I wanted a croissant as that’s how I determine if it’s a top-tier bakery (I’m not a bakery snob. I just love great croissants).
The croissants were gone for the day by the time I arrived, so I opted for the vegetarian sandwich on a croissant and wow! I’ve enjoyed amazing croissants all over and this was one of the best.
The texture was crispy and while it was a little more dense it was amazing. Golden brown in color, very distinct layers, and buttery but not too much. I think I’ll need to order in advance for the next time I crave a CocoBella’s croissant (or arrive much earlier!).
The sour dough-based bread selection was also calling out to me, so I went with the Country Loaf, a brown bread, and the cranberry bread.
This is a destination and a place to linger, especially during the week when it’s likely less crowded. There’s a vibe here that I haven’t felt in a while. One of belonging, one of community, one of inspiration and creativity. The music, the pastries, the coffee, the people – it’s what we need more of and I hope that you stop by CocoBella’s the next time you’re in the St. Clair area.
Go on a “backyard” Michigan adventure and stop at CocoBella’s for an hour or more and immerse yourself in all they have to offer – listen, really listen to the music, practice mindful eating as you look at each layer of your croissant or pastry, or linger over your coffee.
You can feel the care and soul of this place after just a few moments. The friendly and welcoming staff are all around and you can feel the intention of what the owners wanted to create and they certainly brought something wonderful to St. Clair, Michigan.
When you go:
- St. Clair, MI is about an hour from Detroit
- Try the croissants! Arrive early.
- CocoBella’s Menu
I love the architecture of this bakery!
Thank you, Cindy! It’s a beautiful space and I loved the repurposing.