Area Resident Opens Dog Bakery in Grosse Pointe Woods

For at least the last several months, Lisa Bardy has watched commercial properties in the Grosse Pointes come and go. Every time a new storefront was clearly being prepared for a new business, she was crossing her fingers that it wasn't going to be a dog bakery. 

Bardy, 41, recently made the leap from the corporate work world to her dream, which comes in the form of a retail storefront named  Bow Wow Bake Shoppe in Grosse Pointe Woods at 21035 Mack Ave.

The store opened earlier this month but Bardy is planning a heavier grand opening push in late June. Dogs who visit her store receive a free biscuit and there is a water station outside the front door. 

Bardy bakes all of her dog treats from scratch on-site. All of her recipes are licensed and approved through the Michigan Department of Agriculture. She creates one new recipe at a time, tests it out on her own pooches before sending it in for approval.

The Harper Woods resident loves dogs and has been baking her own homemade treats for years. She created an online business for her treats but quickly realized her dream was truly to have a storefront where she could meet and interact with the customers--the four-legged furry ones walking their owners.

Decorated with pictures of dogs from her own family, including Daisy, the slightly crabby Jack Russell , Tuco, her boyfriend's bulldog,  and Nala, Bardy's newest dog who is still young enough to be overly energetic. Bardy's last dog, Belle, who passed away last summer after living into the late teenage years, also dots the wall.

Eventually the plan is to bring Nala to work everyday. For now Bardy is just getting into the swing of owning a business--learning to operate a cash register, figuring out the most optimal hours and, the most important, learning what treats are coveted by the dogs.

After all, this is nothing like her former professional life. Most recently she worked in the finance department for Mercedes Benz and before that she did information technology in Hamtramck Schools. 

"No one knows if (the business will) survive but everybody is just envious of the idea of going from corporate to like just hanging out," Bardy said. "I'll never regret it."

Her inspiration came from a variety of people and events, including her mother's passing last year. Her father had already passed away several years earlier, she said, and with both of them gone it "made you realize your own mortality."

"I had been going to the office for years," Bardy said. "I thought maybe I should try something else."

She's already met many of the neighborhood dogs, including Trixie--a recently adopted puppy who made a stop into the store during this interview. She remembers them all by name and she's anxious to meet more.

Bardy's sister, Tanya Bardy, is helping her but maintaining her own full time job. They took possession of the building in late March, moved it and decorated in April. Their location is the former site of a swimsuit store.

While Bardy had looked at some commercial properties, this space was truly move-in ready, which is what she was looking for. Finding the location made it happen, she said, noting her desire to serve the niche business as a dog bakery rather than compete with other well-established dog supply/grooming busineses.

With a kitchen table and a professional convection oven, Bardy is able to prepare fresh treats between customers. Of course, "the most difficult dough is the one they like the most," she said, laughing.

Among the favorites of the dogs are the paw print cookies and the brownie bites, "those are pretty exciting for the dogs too," Bardy said. Other treats include donut shaped treats, bone shaped treats and a miniloaf. 

For now Bow Wow is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. The store will be closed on Mondays. Bardy said she is still trying to figure out if those are the best times and may adjust as she sees necessary. 

In the meantime, Bardy is looking forward to spending her days greeting and meeting new furry friends and their owners. 

To contact the store, visit their website, Facebook page, or call 313-469-7204. You may also email Bardy or just stop in at 21035 Mack Ave.