Detroit City Wire

Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown. The bakery will receive a $100,000 grand prize from Comerica Bank to establish a physical location in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park. In addition to the financial support, Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe will benefit from a business support package provided by TechTown Detroit, Wayne State University's entrepreneurship hub.

The bakery is owned by Lauren Ellis, who has over ten years of experience as a pastry chef with work stints in New York, Chicago, and Sydney. The bakery focuses on small-batch viennoiseries like croissants and Danish pastries using Michigan seasonal produce and flavors inspired by both the Midwest and South regions.

Lauren Ellis plans to use the grant money to open a storefront in District 5 of Detroit, an area where her grandmother lived and after whom she named her business. This year’s contest also awarded $10,000 grants to three runner-up finalists for their storefronts through TechTown's Small Business Support Hub grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Christianne Malone from Wayne State University expressed pride in Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe's achievement: “TechTown is proud of Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe’s win and excited to continue to support the business as it grows into a staple in the local community.”

Public voting played a significant role throughout this year's competition. Over 21,000 votes were cast during two rounds of public voting that narrowed down ten semi-finalists to four finalists: Detroit Culture & Clay, Halie & Co., Livy’s Sweet Rolls, and Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe.

The final event took place on June 11 at Wayne State University Industry Innovation Center in Detroit. Finalists presented their business ideas live before judges and an audience comprising their community members.

Meghan Storey from Comerica Bank commented on the event: “Comerica Bank works extensively with small businesses... Congratulations to Walter Pat’s Bakery Cafe – we look forward to watching this company flourish.”

Since its inception in 2012 supporting small businesses through Hatch Detroit contests along with contributions including this year have seen Comerica Bank invest approximately $1.3 million into fostering such ventures.

Previous winners now recognized among successful businesses include G.L.A.M Body Scrubs (2024), Bouncing Around The Motor City (2023), Little Liberia (2022), among others.

For more information about Hatch Detroit contests visit HatchDetroit.com