Knudsen's Danish Bakery in North Rosedale Park shuts after 95 years

Customers of a longtime Detroit sweet spot, the Knudsen's Danish Bakery on West McNichols in Detroit, are feeling the loss of the establishment this week after discovering that the business has closed its doors.

For-sale signs have popped up on the property.

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The bakery made no mention of a closure on its social media platforms before the for-sale signs appeared, but a Facebook post by D&D Moving and Storage Co. shared on April 29 shows that the bakery's industrial mixers were getting moved to the company's storage facility.

Knudsen's owners, the Dimitrieski family, shared the following statement with the Free Press:

"Ready to retire. Thanks for supporting us … Thank you Detroit for all the love and support."

Yet, the smell of donuts and sugary treats linger, especially around the back near the delivery door, where an abandoned metal rack sits. The storefront's window displays have been cleaned out, as customers hankering for a Knudsen's treat pull in and out of the parking lot in dismay.

Stanley Bell, 69, of Grand Blanc, a building engineer at Cornerstone Health & Technology High School, is one of the customers who will miss the bakery.

Bell said he started visiting about a month ago and it had "very good donuts" — his favorites in particular: custard and raspberry. He said he first found its doors closed on Monday.

"(Knudsen's) is really nice, and nice people, good prices and I enjoyed it, and it's right up the street," Bell said.

According to a Detroit Free Press clipping from May 29, 1977, Knudsen's Danish Bakery was established in 1923 and owned by Elizabeth A. Knudsen until her death that year — she lived in the Detroit area for more than 50 years.

Since its opening, the bakery made a name for itself as a local staple, doling out freshly baked donuts, pastries and party cakes.

It was named one of the best places in Detroit for donuts by Thrillist in 2016.

Some families have been stopping by for generations.

"We have been Knudsen customers for forty-plus years even after moving twice," Facebook user Eileen Kaller wrote in a public review shared on October 13, 2014. "Try the almond tea ring and Christmas Springdale to see why they are our favorite Detroit area bakery. The staff there are cheerful and courteous too."

"My mom used to always get her cakes from here when we were little, and I always remembered that the cakes were delicious!" Sandra Douglas wrote in a Knudsen's Facebook review posted on June 10, 2015. "Well, we are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary this fall, and are hoping that Knudsens can accommodate us!"

On Nov. 1, 2017, Zvonko Dimitrieski, a member of the family in ownership, posted that the bakery was revamping and making a comeback.

"New ideas are in the works with a whole new makeover! Product is made fresh everyday that melt in your mouth! The taste tells the story at Knudsen’s!"

When asked what changed, the family said the following in a written statement:

"Change of heart...bakery business is very demanding and we can't commit, ready for a vacation."

Contact reporter Aleanna Siacon at ASiacon@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AleannaSiacon.