Dearborn’s Roma Bakery expands to Ann Arbor

Throughout the decades different owners assumed operation and never changed the name. But, none besides the first owners have run it longer than the married Lebanese couple that manage it today.

Esam and Amal Nemer have owned Roma Bakery for 10 years, and ultimately reinvented the acclaimed establishment.

They refurbished it by opening up the walls and expanding the menu, which consisted of French and Italian bread, pepperoni rolls and pizza rolls. “When we took it over we elaborated a little more,” said Esam.

Previous owners kept the name for business purposes. Esam says Roma Bakery is a legend in the city.  For more than half a decade the business has maintained high baking standards.  “When people see the Roma Bakery sign at the new location in Ann Arbor, although we’re not open there yet, they say they’re familiar with the place from Dearborn and they're so happy that we are opening up near them,” Esam said.

About five years ago the wife of the original owner who has since passed away, visited the bakery and started crying as she hugged the Nemers, and thanked them for keeping the name-even asking for Esam’s shirt that had the bakery’s name imprinted on it.  

The Nemers employ seven people at the current location in Dearborn. The new project will seat more people and bring jobs to the troubled economy.  The owners have thought about expanding to Toledo, Ohio too.  

Roma Bakery carries a wide variety of mini pies, various types of breads including zaatar and cheese, family size pizza, pepperoni rolls, hummus, tabouli, desserts and tea biscuits among other items. The menu options are more savory than sweet.

The pepperoni rolls at Roma Bakery, its biggest seller, have been locally famous for longer than half a century.  A line on the business cards reads: “The Home of The Pepperoni Rolls.”

“No one makes the pepperoni roll like we do,”Amal said. In a single day Roma Bakery can use up to 300 pounds of flour and bake more than a thousand pies according to Nemer.  Plus, the pepperoni is halal and a real must in our community.

Esam graduated from the Art Institute of Michigan in March of last year and when the idea to open an additional location emerged. Business is continuing to flourish for the Nemers. They cater to various banquet halls, mosques and schools.

They face tough competition in Dearborn, but say what really distinguishes them from other Arab owned bakeries is their dough, which is also notable.  They employ a staff of baking experts. Esam says quality, service and cleanliness are the three components required to keep a business thriving.   

The couple has three children who occasionally help their parents at the family business when they’re not in school. The oldest is in college and two of their daughters are still in high school.

Most of their associates and customers have been with them since they purchased the business and are considered family to the Nemers.  “Thank you for your business and loyalty, because we have lots of loyal customers,” Amal said.    

The Arab American News

New Michigan Media