A West Michigan woman decided to open her own baking business during the pandemic at 71 years old, proving it’s never too late to go after your dreams.
71-year-old launches bakery business
Courtesy Charlotte Touchette
In her retirement, Charlotte Touchette is finding a way to give back to the community while doing something she loves: baking.
The 71-year-old West Michigander started her business, Charlotte Touchette’s Gourmet Coffee Cakes, in December. The bakery offers cinnamon vanilla-, amaretto- and cherry cheesecake-flavored coffee cakes based on Touchette’s mother’s recipe. They are available for purchase at local stores, including Horrocks Market, Ada Fresh Market, Forest Hills Foods, Bridge Street Market and the Grand Rapids Downtown Market.
While the business is operating under cottage law, Touchette is working on getting her licensing so she can move into the Downtown Market incubator kitchen.