Charlotte Gluten Free Bakery

The lady who ran this place couldn’t handle large orders. It now says for rent I’m guessing she went out of business. Open one day gone the next.

This a great find! We have been looking for Gluten Free (GF) bread options for a long— time. Read the positive reviews here from other Unilocalers and decided to try the bakery the next time we went to Grand Rapids. Charlotte’s is a small specialty bakery that covers what all people who avoid gluten want: Good, hearty bread and baked goods!
When you walk into the bakery you smell the wonderful baked bread smell that makes your mouth water. The bread racks were almost empty but we did find a loaf of warm-​from-​the-​oven harvest grain bread. It contains flaxseed, oats, sesame and sunflower seeds. We met Deb the owner who was enthusiastic about her wares and had us try the warm harvest grain crostini. Needless to say, we were hooked. The bakery offers a display full of different GF cookies, scones, muffins, and even chocolate walnut brownies. Mention that you are a first time customer when you come in and you get to chose one of the great cookies! We will be back and will try the GF pizza dough next time.
You.
Can.
TRUST!

Absolutely delicious carrot cake muffin — incredibly moist and flavorful. Oatmeal cookie was great, too. Chocolate chip cookie was pretty good. Definitely worth seeking out, especially if you are gluten-​free!

With a wheat-​allergic husband to feed, I love having this GF bakery right around the corner! Never have we regretted (or not enjoyed!) a purchase from here. A little on the pricey side, yes, but you’re getting quality, flavorful, gluten-​free baked goods and friendly, happy service in return. The pizza crust is a must-​try.

This tiny bakery has a passion for good, wholesome, and fresh products. I heard a great deal of hubbub about this place, passed it all the time on the way to the grandparents house, but never ventured inside. That is, until a few weeks ago.
I had just a few minutes to swing in and see what all the talk was about, and when I walked into the small standalone store, I was warmly greeted by the full smells of baking, of cakes, cookies and all sorts of breads.
I looked to the walls and all the baskets were empty save a few loaves. The display case had just a few cookies left, and the counter had some mismatched bags stuffed with all I could imagine were orders ready for pickup. Now, when you walk into a bakery and it’s empty, it doesn’t mean that it’s about to go bust, it means it’s sold out! Daily!
After waiting for the customers before me to be served leisurely, it was my turn, and I had already overstayed the few minutes I had budgeted for the experience. Stressed for time, I pointed to a Cinnamon Banana Bread loaf and said, «all I want is that.» And then the dreaded question from any store or restaurant employee came, «Is this your first time?» I was afraid to answer honestly. But I did.
Good thing! First timers get a free cookie (I chose Oatmeal Raisin). And it’s a good thing that the free cookie comes over the counter, so that you’re distracted while the speech about everything being gluten free, and everything being fresh, and oh here take the baking calendar, and we do cakes, and make sure to check out the book of everything we’ve done, and oh yeah make sure to let us know if you have special requests…
Twenty minutes later, I left with my $ 6 banana bread and free cookie. Will I be back, oh hell yes… but when I’ve budgeted the time, and can arrive EARLY!
Tip: before walking in, pretend you’re antiquing in a small Hudson Valley town and ready for conversation.