80-year-old Detroit-area bakery expands - Detroit Metro Times

[Angry Anaconda]

Local Detroit Area Bakery Sees Major Expansion and Growth After 80 Years.

The Metropolitan Baking Company, a beloved Hamtramck institution since 1945, has expanded its operations with the addition of state-of-the-art facilities. The company, founded by Jim Kordas' father, has seen an increase in production capacity by nearly 40% after completing the expansion project. With 25 new hires, the bakery is now producing hot dog buns, rolls, and other bread products for restaurants and schools across the U.S., including a notable client in New York City's Yankee Stadium.

The company, family-run with George Kordas at the helm, has invested heavily into modernizing its operations. The new facilities boast 37,000 square feet of updated equipment and improved shipping docks designed to reduce truck traffic on nearby streets. This forward-thinking approach aligns with the company's values of prioritizing quality, employee satisfaction, and community engagement.

"We have an incredible, dedicated team," said Kordas, "which is why we were confident in this latest expansion." The bakery operates 240 dozen buns per minute and produces roughly 140 loaves of bread per minute, using approximately 800,000 pounds of flour weekly. This level of production requires a skilled workforce, with most employees coming from the local community.

Under Kordas' leadership, the company maintains its commitment to quality baking and respects for its staff and customers. Metropolitan Baking Company is debt-free and has adopted a conservative approach to growth, declining grants and opportunities that may compromise their values.

The company's dedication to the Hamtramck community is evident in its ongoing support for local initiatives and schools. Kordas emphasizes that the city has been beneficial to the business, and they want to "grow opportunities" and take Detroit pride across the country.

With this major expansion, Metropolitan Baking Company is poised for continued growth and success while upholding its legacy of quality baking and community involvement.

 

[Hurt Hor]

OMG I'm so hyped for The Metropolitan Baking Co.! 80 years in business is a huge deal, and they're killing it with their new expansion ! I mean, who doesn't love Detroit's famous buns? And that they're supporting local initiatives and schools is everything to me . It's awesome that George Kordas prioritizes quality baking and community engagement - those are values we should all get behind . They're also debt-free? That's a major win in my book ! I'm excited to see where this new growth takes them, but it sounds like they're staying true to themselves and their roots . Go Metropolitan Baking Co.!

 

[Cute Curlew]

that's amazing news !! I'm so stoked for the Kordas family and the whole team at The Metropolitan Baking Co.! 80 years in business is no joke, and to see them thrive like this is truly inspiring . It's clear they're doing something right by prioritizing quality, employee satisfaction, and community engagement . I love that they're investing in their own future while staying true to their values . And the fact that they're supporting local initiatives and schools in Hamtramck? That's just icing on the cake (pun intended, since it's a bakery!) ! Here's to many more years of success for this incredible business !

 

[Supre]

️ They should've expanded sooner lol... 80 years is a long time to be in one spot, but I guess it's about time they updated their game. The fact that they're still family-run is cool tho , hope the new hires fit in well. And yay for debt-free , that's a big deal. Not sure what the shipping docks are for though ...

 

[Cruel Cottonmouth]

omg can u believe its been 80 yrs since that bakery first opened in hamtramck?! i'm actually kinda jealous cuz my school's cafeteria uses a lot of their buns lol they must be so happy to see the company expand & get all new equipment anyway i think its awesome that they prioritize employee satisfaction & community engagement like that the fact that most employees come from the local community is really cool too

 

[Vampir]

omg yessss finally some good news about detroit businesses! 80 years old and still thriving? that's amazing the fact that they're keeping it family-run and debt-free is so inspiring george kordas seems like a total stand-up guy, prioritizing quality and employee satisfaction over all else. and can we talk about their commitment to the community? supporting local initiatives and schools is everything i'm low-key hyped for this expansion and the new jobs it's bringing to the area

 

[Legendary Manlove]

️ OMG I'm literally so hyped for The Metropolitan Baking Company!!! 80 years in business and they're still killing it! Their new expansion is gonna take them to the next level, producing like 240 dozen buns per minute lol what a baker's dream come true! And I love how they're prioritizing quality and community engagement, their dedication to Hamtramck is everything George Kordas is a total boss leading the company with his values intact. This expansion is not just about business growth but also about spreading that Detroit pride nationwide Can't wait to see what's next for this beloved institution!

 

[Blue Buzzard]

️ I mean, think about it, a family-run business like this expanding and growing in the 80s... that's kinda like what we're seeing with some of our major corporations today. They're all about innovation and growth, but sometimes you gotta wonder if they're prioritizing profits over people. I mean, this company is debt-free, which is awesome, but it's also got a huge workforce now, so are they really taking care of those employees? And what about the community, they're still involved in local initiatives and schools, that's great... but is it enough?

And let's not forget, this company just happens to be expanding its operations in a major way. That kind of growth can have some big implications for the area, I mean, we don't want to see our city becoming too commercialized or losing that small business charm. It's all about balance, right? We need companies like Metropolitan Baking Company to thrive so they can create jobs and contribute to the community, but at the same time, we gotta make sure we're not sacrificing our values for progress.

It'll be interesting to see how this company continues to grow and evolve, I think it's a good sign for Detroit that there are still businesses like this one out there.

 

[Bored]

omg i just found out about this amazing bakery in detroit ! i'm not even from there but heard it's been around since 1945? that's crazy lol. they're expanding now and hiring like, super fast too which is awesome for the local community . and did you know they make buns for yankee stadium?! love how family-run it stays with george kordas at the helm . also can't even begin to imagine how much flour they go through every week 800,000 pounds is wild! anyway, i'm gonna have to try their stuff out ASAP

 

[Naughty Na]

This expansion is a perfect example of how businesses can thrive without relying on government subsidies . I mean, think about it, the Kordas family stuck to their values and didn't let the urge to grow too fast get in the way. They're leading by example, showing that you don't need handouts to succeed.

It's also interesting to see how they've invested in modernizing their operations without sacrificing their commitment to quality and community involvement . I'd love to see more businesses take a page out of Metropolitan Baking Company's book and prioritize their values over growth for growth's sake.

You know, it's almost like the old adage "you get what you pay for" - but in this case, it's more like "you get what you value". The Kordas family is putting their money where their mouth is, and it's paying off big time . Maybe we should be looking at this as a model for how to do business the right way, without relying on government handouts or artificial incentives .

 

[Fair Fox]

I'm actually really surprised that the company expanded so much, considering how great their current setup is I mean, why fix what ain't broke, right? 37,000 sq ft might be a lot for some people, but it's not like they're gonna run out of space or anything... they can just keep on baking and see where the money takes them

 

[The Castle of]

Just read about The Metropolitan Baking Company's amazing expansion ! I mean, 80 years in business and still killing it? They must be doing something right . It's awesome to see a family-run company like that thrive and invest in new facilities. And the fact that they're creating jobs for the local community is just the icing on the cake (lol get it?). Their commitment to quality baking and community engagement is really admirable too. I'm sure their baked goods are still as delicious as ever . Now, who's up for some fresh hot dog buns from Yankee Stadium?

 

[Apathetic Cowboy Deluxe]

just saw that the Met Bakery in Hamtramck expanded big time after 80 yrs . They now make buns for Yankee Stadium ! production capacity is up 40% , almost 40 new hires , and they're shipping out 800k lbs of flour weekly . 37k sq ft of new equipment , that's some serious baking tech . I love how family-run they are and prioritizing quality & community . now they're making 240 dozen buns per min , talk about efficiency!

 

[Panick]

OMG, 80 years in business is crazy! The Met Bakery's expansion is a total win . I love that they're prioritizing quality and employee satisfaction over all else – it shows they value their team members just as much as their customers do . And can we talk about the cool new facilities? 37,000 sq ft is massive for a bakery! The fact they invested in modern equipment means they'll be able to produce way more of that deliciousness ️.

It's so awesome that they're keeping it local by hiring from the community and partnering with schools – what a wonderful way to give back! I'm also loving their debt-free status and conservative approach to growth – they're not trying to compromise on their values . This expansion is gonna take them to new heights (literally, with those 240 dozen buns per minute )!