LAKE ODESSA – Lake Odessa is a small village located in the southwest portion of Ionia County. Its population is only about 2,000 and like many small towns and villages, Lake Odessa is made up of several small, locally owned and operated businesses. Our profile today focuses on Jeff Meyer and his bakery in the downtown area.
While the name is the same as the huge store chain, the spelling is different and there is no relation to Fred Meijer. Jeff started Meyers’ Bakery 20 years ago in Lake Odessa and has been a fixture in the community ever since. “I actually attended culinary school and worked in the kitchens at Steelcase” says Jeff, then began working at the bakery he would eventually buy and take over.
Meyers is married with two sons, one of which may inherit the business some day, but some long hours have ensued, especially the first few years. When he first started, his day used to begin at 10:00 PM and go until about five of six the following morning. He had to keep that pace up for about ten years until he became comfortable and established running his own business.
Jeff Meyers and his team of a couple full and part-timers make a variety of pastries and donuts. He’s also been making wedding cakes since 1989, mainly on weekends. The store also sells gourmet coffee and other unique items such as spelt pasta.
Jeff’s neighbors and business owners in downtown Lake Odessa own and operate things like a quilt shop, artwork gallery, an antique store, and other one-of-a-kind unique stores like So Simply. Some of the downtown area is meticulously paved in beautiful red brick walkways. The village also pipes music over a loudspeaker downtown.
While they don’t have a website, you can find the Meyers’ Bakery Facebook page here. The So Simply website can be found here. You can also get more information by going to the Lake Odessa Village website here.
