One beloved downtown Lansing bakery is closing its physical doors—but not its business. Sweet Encounter Bakery, a well-known staple in downtown Lansing, is making the leap from storefront to fully online sales.
- Sweet Encounter Bakery is closing its physical location in downtown Lansing to operate fully online, with the owner citing increased reach and a better work/ life balance
- Owner Nikki Thompson-Frazier emphasized her deep ties to the community, but says shifting online is a strategic move for business growth.
- Online shopping continues to rise nationally, with Q1 2025 U.S. e-commerce sales reaching nearly $276 billion—up almost 6% from last year according to the U.S Census Bureau
- Community opinions on the shift are mixed, with some valuing convenience and others preferring in-person retail experiences.
WATCH: From downtown delight to digital destination: Sweet Encounter Bakery closes storefront and moves online
From downtown delight to digital destination: Sweet Encounter Bakery closes storefront and moves online
Owner Nikki Thompson-Frazier shared that while the change comes with mixed emotions, it’s a necessary step for growth.
“I like to say downtown Lansing chose me,” Thompson-Frazier said, reflecting on how she started her business. “The first year we actually received rent free here and then from there we stayed on board with the business, so we’ve been here for 3 and a half years now.”Although rooted in the community, she believes moving online will allow Sweet Encounter to reach a broader customer base.
“We’re getting some people who are sad, but also some people are really excited about it,” she said. “They understand the growth of online is so powerful, especially being able to reach so many people.”The trend of businesses transitioning online isn’t unique to Lansing.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. retail e-commerce sales for Q1 of 2025 reached $275.8 billion, nearly 6% higher than the previous year…