Roma Bakery finds business challenging but promising in new Ann Arbor location
“Food is my passion.” That is what Sam Nemer has to say when asked about running Ann Arbor’s Roma Bakery. As owner, he is there seven days a week, and has noticed a steady growth in customers since the bakery’s opening almost six months ago.
Owner Sam Nemer in front of Roma Bakery at 4837 Washtenaw Ave. in Ann Arbor.
Angela Smith for AnnArbor.com
The original, in Dearborn, has been in operation for 40 years, according to Nemer. He and his family took over operations 10 years ago, and the business proved to be “both fun and profitable.”
After years using his business degree as a general manager at Art Van Furniture, Nemer resigned to pursue his passion: food. He went to The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Michigan in Novi and opened Roma Bakery Ann Arbor shortly after graduating. He makes all of the pastries and bakery items himself on site.
Traditionally, Roma Bakery’s specialty has been its grab-and-go pepperoni roll, but Nemer has attracted a steady clientele by offering both Italian and Middle Eastern favorites.
“We have a good mix. Some Asian folks love our sweets and lots of students love our broccoli cheese pies. Other locals like the spinach pies, eclairs, cannoli, French bread…” Nemer continues naming some of his favorite menu items.
The menu items are priced frugally; lunch combos for $4 and $5, and homemade bakery items priced from 50 cents to $3.
Eclairs, cannoli, and other sweets from Roma Bakery in Ann Arbor.
photo courtesy Roma Bakery on Facebook
“Business has been challenging, but promising, too,” Nemer says. “A lot of people still have not found us, but that is beginning to change.” Roma Bakery has recently begun to cater, most recently, weekend events at Eastern Michigan University.
Roma Bakery has three full-time and three part-time employees, but is not financially viable yet, according to Nemer. But Nemer says he plans to persist until he finds success in the Ann Arbor location.
“Service, quality, cleanliness,'' he says. "That's what I’ve learned to adhere to, and it works.”
Angela Smith is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com
Comments
bunnyabbot
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 8:20 p.m.
now this is something that would be nice on the westside. Even in the location of Miller and Maple in a new building thats been vacant a number of years or to get some new life into the miller maple market. I would suggest Sam try to get some wholesale accounts with either Knights Market or Sparrow Market or Sweetwaters, his pastries would then be at my regular places.
AAbob43
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 6:44 p.m.
Good luck Sam. But "east of U.S. 23" and "Ann Arbor location" are mutually exclusive terms in my world view. That's drive-by land. If you were actually in Ann Arbor, with foot traffic, and sold those nice pastries and espresso, you'd be killin' it right now.
transplant
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 4:09 p.m.
Wish the article said where on Washtenaw - next door to ..., across the street from ....
Tony Dearing
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 4:24 p.m.
It's just west of Golfside, on the north side of Washtenaw. I've added a Google map to the story.
Trouble
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 4:07 p.m.
Sam, I grew up as a kid eating the Pepperoni Rolls at Roma Bakery. Do yourself a big favor and get back to the original recipe instituted by the original owners. I wish you success.
LuvAA
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.
Look forward to checking it out! Never would have known they were there...thanks for the article!
Jane
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 2:32 p.m.
I think a menu online or on their facebook would also help people discover what they have. The location is not a great one and they are easy to miss but maybe with something directing people online might also help. The only time I have gone here is when they were closed due to a gas leak. Someday I will get back over that way, I hope
Machine
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 2:07 p.m.
Due to the location and the fact that they close at 6 PM on weekdays, there is no way I can get out of work and drive there before they close.
UM owns
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
Yelp seems to love it, so that's good enough for me to check it out!
phdeez
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 2:03 p.m.
The Roma Bakery in Dearborn is fantastic. Have had many quick, cheap breakfasts and lunches from there. Looking forward to visiting the new location, too.
Meral
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.
Good Luck to Roma Bakery, we needed. Those of us still yearning for Quality Bakery. Wishful thinking.
DNB
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 12:35 p.m.
This sounds like a place worth checking out. If they stick to "service, quality, cleanliness", as Nemer says, they will be able to keep a loyal following of customers. Good luck with your bakery. Those pastries look very tempting - I think I gained a few pounds just looking at them.
Bill
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 12:22 p.m.
Good to see a bakery in the area as there seem to be very fewe true bakeries in existence.
Vivienne Armentrout
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
It is confusing when businesses are identified as "Ann Arbor" when they are actually in a different community. This bakery was reviewed in the Frugal Friday series where a helpful map identified the location as on Washtenaw near Golfside in Ypsilanti Township. That article, however, gave the address as "Ann Arbor MI 48108" while the Google map utility identifies it (I think correctly) as Ypsilanti 48197. This current article refers consistently to "Ann Arbor" without otherwise identifying the location (other than providing the street address).
YpsiLivin
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 4:29 p.m.
You have the post office to thank for the "confusion." As Brad points out, the business is located in Pittsfield Township. The city name that gets included as part of any address refers to the POST OFFICE that handles the mail for that location, not the municipal designation of the intended recipient's physical location. In this case, Roma Bakery - according to the Post Office is located at: 4837 WASHTENAW AVE ANN ARBOR MI 48108-3437 The business has an Ann Arbor address, as do ALL businesses on both the north and south sides of Washtenaw Avenue between Carpenter and Golfside because the Ann Arbor Post Office (48108) handles the mail for those addresses. To illustrate, the Post Office confirms the address of the BP station at Golfside and Washtenaw as: 4975 WASHTENAW AVE ANN ARBOR MI 48108-1413 and the address of the Marathon station across the street as: 4970 WASHTENAW AVE ANN ARBOR MI 48108-1414 These businesses are the easternmost addresses on Washtenaw Avenue that have an Ann Arbor address. The K-Mart, just across the street, has an Ypsilanti address because its mail delivery is handled through the Ypsilanti Post Office.
Brad
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
No, directly across the street is also Pittsfield Twp, it just has an AA mailing address and still isn't AA.
brian
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
Ad fjord said, directly across the street is Ann Arbor so I wouldn't call Roma a "different community".
Brad
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.
Ms. Armentrout is correct. Places have names, and that place isn't Ann Arbor. You can be sure if they were reporting a crime in that same location it would suddenly become Ypsilanti.
fjord
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 12:41 p.m.
That stretch of Washtenaw is the boundary between 48197 and 48108. Roma is in 48197, but its neighbors across the street are in 48108. They're all part of Pittsfield Township, and are within the Ann Arbor school district, though Roma would have an Ypsilanti mailing address and businesses on the south side of Washtenaw would have Ann Arbor mailing addresses. See? Not confusing at all.
sweetpea777
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 11:45 a.m.
I have visited Roma Bakery many times and have enjoyed eating the fresh, out of the oven bread. I love the spinach pies, pepperoni rolls and meat pies. Very good!!! The place is well maintained and very clean. You can eat lunch their or take it to go. Roma Bakery is a place where you have to just check out if you want real homemade food. Love it!!
Dexter Bear
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 11:39 a.m.
Thanks for an article about a cool business I had never heard of; I look forward to checking it out soon! They sound great!!
Jimmy McNulty
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 11:01 a.m.
The folks at Roma and the owner are super-friendly and accomodating, and the baked goods are superb.
mr_annarbor
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 10:41 a.m.
I love bakeries like the Roma. Too bad I don't live in that part of town. We need something like that on the west side of town.
Carole
Mon, Apr 9, 2012 : 10:36 a.m.
Will have to check it out. Best wishes to the Bakery and hope that business continues to grow.