Orijin Bakery Opened in Downtown Ann Arbor
The new bakery on East Liberty Street began operations on August 19, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Baking
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Orijin bakery opened to the public on August 19, 2026, taking over the former Molly's Cupcakes space at 617 E. Liberty St. Founded by Jin Gorian, the shop serves laminated pastries, sandwiches, and coffee to a primarily student-driven clientele.
Why it matters
The bakery moved to this expanded location to accommodate surging demand for its pastry program, which previously operated out of a cramped 500-square-foot space at The Boro. This upgrade allows the shop to significantly increase production capacity for its signature goods.
The Pulpo Group invested $2 million in kitchen renovations to support the new facility. Approximately 80% of the bakery's customer base consists of University of Michigan students.
The players
Jin Gorian
Jin Gorian is the founder and owner who launched the Orijin bakery concept in Ann Arbor.
The Pulpo Group
The Pulpo Group is an investment entity that provided the capital for the bakery's large-scale kitchen renovations.
Sava's
Sava's is a local restaurant whose lower level houses the dedicated basement kitchen used for pastry production.
The details
The facility features a dedicated basement kitchen connected to the lower level of the restaurant Sava's, managed by a head laminator. The menu features breakfast and seasonal sandwiches alongside a variety of teas and coffee drinks.
Timeline
August 19, 2026: Orijin bakery opened to the public.
October 13, 2026: Launch of signature cake line.
October 30-31, 2026: Halloweekend themed pastry specials.
Roadmap
The bakery's expansion follows the post-pandemic shift toward expanded specialized micro-bakery facilities in college towns, mirroring growth seen in similar student-heavy markets. This move positions the brand to capture a larger share of the local artisanal food market.
Students and residents can now visit the larger storefront on East Liberty Street for increased pastry availability. The transition from the previous Plymouth Road site streamlines access to the bakery's expanded sandwich and laminated pastry menu.
The takeaway
The successful move reflects a broader trend of local food businesses scaling up to meet intense demand in university corridors. Patrons should look for upcoming holiday-themed releases as the bakery establishes its new footprint.
What happens next
The bakery will launch a signature cake line on October 13, 2026, followed by Halloweekend themed pastry specials on October 30-31, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the local food scene, see the latest updates from Baking.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mlive.
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