What do you get when you mix small business know-how with a sweet tooth—and sprinkle in a little family love? Rita Girl's Boutique Bakery, in downtown Grand Rapids. Founder Micki Ackerman and pastry chef Maria Tornga (aka Micki's niece) are whipping up treats West Michigan can't turn down, and they're doing it with style.
Micki grew up in Grand Rapids and moved away for twenty years. And like pre-heating the oven, she returned when the temperature was right for the emerging dessert experts to wow the taste buds of the masses. But this bakeshop isn't your typical morning doughnuts-and-coffee run. Rita Girl's started out at a pastry cart parked last summer near HopCat. When space opened up in MoDiv, the girls snatched it up just in time and have made a comfortable home among the other shop owners. Even so, they'll still have the cart this summer. "We can't wait for spring," Micki said. "We're excited to be out again."
Never been to Rita Girl's? Well Save room for dessert after every meal—or just reward yourself for an afternoon well done and get over to the shop, where freshly baked signature items are prepared daily. Maria's specialty is brownies, but these aren't your box-mix batter variety. Maria whips up everything from peanut butter with buttercream frosting to German chocolate toppings. She entered her four-layer brownie—using Founders' Shiraz cherry beer, white chocolate and pecan ganache, and cherry mousse on top—in the recent Dessert Wars at the Amway Grand Plaza.
Even if you're not a brownie fan (or if you're gluten-free), there are recipes for you at Rita Girl's. The Pink Champagne cupcake is a crowd pleaser. With pink moscato in the batter and frosting, "it's light, sweet, and decadent," Micki said. Check out Rita Girl's cupcakes on the menu of Grand Rapids Brewing Company!
Micki and Maria are open for catering business as well. They offer their baking services for parties big and small. Micki says being a part of people's happy occasions is one of the best parts of the business. She also loves getting the chance to give back to the community that has welcomed her with open arms (and empty stomachs).
"We love the opportunity to donate, especially when it's community fundraisers or when someone is in need," Micki said. Rita Girl's has donated baked goods to HIS Health Intervention Services and K W Cares, in addition to other local fundraisers. "We love those personal opportunities."
Providing sweet treats to West Michigan makes Micki feel involved in the lives of her customers—at the best times in their lives: "You're a part of everybody's celebration, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, even if they just come in to get a cupcake." But underneath the apron, there's a woman who is passionate about her trade, and who knows dessert is so much more than a combination of ingredients. "It's just that topping off," she said.
"It's just that perfect finish."
Written by: Erika Fifelski is West Michigan Woman magazine's staff writer. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in journalism. Erika was born and raised in West Michigan, and after a brief stint on the sunrise side, she's home and loving it.
