Residents plan mural for Ypsi Township bakery

On the Ground Ypsilanti is an “embedded journalism” program covering the city and township of Ypsilanti. It is supported by Ann Arbor SPARK, the Center for Health and Research Transformation, Destination Ann Arbor, Eastern Michigan University, Engage @ EMU, Washtenaw Community College, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Washtenaw ISD.

Residents of Ypsilanti Township’s Gault Village neighborhood plan to show love for their locally-owned bakery, B-Cubed Bakery at 741 Emerick St., by painting a mural on the bakery building.

B-Cubed owner Ben Brown says he’s known Gault Village resident Emily Wingfield, who is organizing the mural project, since he was vending at the Ypsilanti Farmers Market, before he had his brick-and-mortar store. Wingfield began shopping at the bakery more often when it opened in her neighborhood, and felt bad that people might drive by and be unaware of it.

“We’re all excited about a fresh bakery that’s a part of the neighborhood, a place you can walk to, and they make really good bread and cinnamon buns,” she says. 

Wingfield says the bakery can only have one sign because of township ordinances, but a bright, welcoming mural might alert passersby on Grove Road that a business is there. Wingfield was a textile designer for many years before becoming a mother of young children and says she hasn’t exercised her design muscle in many years.

“I’ve never painted a mural before, but it’s been on my bucket list,” she says. Wingfield says she thought the project would be fun and an opportunity to invite community collaboration. 

Brown says she created a sketch of a wheat field and another of cinnamon rolls, but community reaction on social media suggested cinnamon rolls as the winning concept. Another community member has volunteered to power-wash the wall for the mural, and Wingfield will paint the outlines. Then, community members will gather in late May or early June to fill in the mural’s full colors. The timing of the community paint event will depend on resident availability and permit approvals from the township.

Those interested in participating in the project may sign up via this Google Doc.