In the summer of 1994 my husband, Omar, and I purchased a 100-year-old building in Southwest Detroit. This three story brick building was desperately in need of renovation. The building had been painted a countless number of times and now the paint was falling off in patches. It looked awful, like some old tired dog with the mange. The makeshift storefronts had rusted iron bars on the doors and windows, windows that had been boarded and covered with graffiti. The windows that were not boarded were practically falling out the warped and rotted wood of this 100-year-old building.

The interior of this building was in so much more need of work than the exterior. We had planned to remove the whole interior, not a job for the weak hearted but we were ready for the challenge. Obviously both our friends and families, not to mention a few strangers thought that we were insane. They would all ask, "Why are you wasting your time and money on that old abandoned building?" and they always added, quite smugly "in that neighborhood." We would smile politely and tell them that we knew what it could be. It was amazing that after ten years of disagreeing with my husband on virtually everything, finally we seemed to agree on something. It was as if we had the same idea of how this historic brick building, which would ultimately be our bakery, should look.

The first thing that we did was clean the 100 years of paint, graffiti, stains and 100 years of weathering that had covered that brick exterior. We completely removed the two make shift storefronts and replaced them with the wood storefronts that would have been original to the building in the late 1800s. With large picture windows in the front on each side of the beautiful orange tone brick building, large wooded doors with brass handles and brass kick plates. Above each door are the numbers 4300 and 4304 in brass. Which are very striking in contrast to the Victorian blue paint that these store fronts had been painted. This Victorian blue was also the color chosen to paint the interior 14-foot tin ceiling, which was in perfect condition. Amazingly in 100 years no one had ever attempted to modernize this building. That was a good thing for us because we also saved the 100-year-old hardwood cherry floor.

After removing approximately seven layers of paint, linoleum, and tile we had the floors refinished. They always creak underfoot like some old tired bones. Always reminding me of what this building was formally. We chose warm colors of red and yellow to compliment the exposed orange tone brick wall in the interior of the bakery. The contemporary lights, metal shelving and modern bakery showcase make this bakery, our bakery, the most inviting spot in the area. When a person walks through the Victorian blue door with the brass handle they are immediately greeted with the smell of freshly brewed gourmet coffee mingled together with sweet smells of sugar, cinnamon, spices, chocolates and other delectables. Also the aroma of freshly baked breads, cakes, and pastries seem to sneak out of the kitchen and dance around the room. It's like coming home after school when mom's been busy in the kitchen all day. All of the familiar smells, warm smiles and the cheerful hellos that keep our regular customers coming back again and again to this community landmark in the MexicanTown district.

Now, none of the people ever say that we were insane for buying this formerly tired old building, in this now empowered neighborhood.

LENA HERNANDEZ