Lansing’s East Michigan Avenue is poised to welcome two new culinary offerings this spring, with a pizzeria and a cookie bakery slated to open their doors within the $256 million Red Cedar development.
Set to occupy first-floor storefronts at 3214 E. Michigan Ave., within the University Edge complex, are HobNob Pizza and Dunk’d, a specialty cookie vendor. They will complement existing businesses Feng Cha, offering tea, specialty drinks, and desserts, and Tropical Smoothie.
HobNob Pizza, a fast-casual pizzeria under the umbrella of Ohio-based chain The Old Bag of Nails Pub, is expected to open its doors in April. Exterior signage for HobNob is already in place along East Michigan Avenue. Tim Miller, vice president of operations for The Old Bag of Nails Pub, anticipates the final stages of health and local inspections to be completed soon.
Initially slated for late 2023, HobNob Pizza’s opening was delayed but is now on track. The establishment will offer pizzas, subs, and salads, diverging from The Old Bag of Nails’ typical pub fare. With an emphasis on takeout, the new pizzeria will have limited seating and is anticipated to employ up to 10 staff members.
Meanwhile, Dunk’d, a cookie bakery, has encountered interior build-out delays in its 1,100-square-foot space. Owner Taylor Buckley aims for a debut “within the next few months.” The bakery will feature a rotating menu of various 6-ounce cookies alongside a weekly 1-pound “mega” cookie.
Founded in 2020 during pandemic-related closures, Dunk’d originated from Buckley’s sales at local farmers’ markets. Lansing will host the bakery’s first storefront, offering Buckley’s signature “super soft and super thick” cookies. Among the enticing flavors are cinnamon roll, churro cheesecake, and blueberry pancake.
The bakery will adopt a grab-and-go concept with online ordering, foregoing seating arrangements.