Walking into Mannino’s Bakery feels like stepping back in time. The air is rich with the scent of fresh-baked bread, the glass cases gleam with rows of cakes, cookies and cannoli, and you’re always greeted with a warm smile that makes you feel like part of the family.
Keeping things familial is how Mannino’s began in 1983, when John and Nancy Mannino opened the bakery. John was just 19 at the time and took pride in providing the community with baked goods for every moment of the day.
When it came time for John to hang up his apron, he knew he wanted to keep the business in the family. He handed the keys to his cousin, Mario Spagnuolo, and Mario’s wife, Marie.
“John still comes in five days a week and makes sure everything is tasty,” Mario said.
Even as the business moved into the modern era, Spagnuolo and Mannino’s haven’t leaned much on extra marketing to promote the bakery. Their strategy is simple: continue putting time and effort into delivering quality products that speak for themselves.
“There aren’t many Italian bakeries left,” he said. “The thing that differentiates us is that we’re still doing the same thing we’ve been doing without making any changes. Keeping it a family-owned business helps.”
Consistency rises to the top of Mannino’s values. Someone always starts baking tomorrow’s bread before midnight, the shelves are stocked with mouthwatering pastries for the 7 a.m. opening, and there’s always a friendly smile when the doorbell chimes.
“We’re just trying to keep everything going and keep that high quality John and Nancy first started,” Spagnuolo said.
That recipe for success continues to pay off. Despite not campaigning for votes, Mannino’s finished as the runner-up for WDIV’s Best Bakery in Metro Detroit for 2025.
“There was a time when we really tried to push that on Facebook,” Spagnuolo said. “But we haven’t done that for years. It’s nice to know we’re still up there being recognized.”
In addition to its front counter of daily favorites, Mannino’s also creates custom cakes for every occasion, from communions to weddings. With the holiday season underway, Spagnuolo said their seasonal treats practically fly off the shelves.
“Christmas is when we do some items once a year, like fig cookies and pignolata — little dough balls with honey and chocolate,” he said. “The holidays are busy, but we’ll take custom orders up to the day before any holiday.”
Whether you’re celebrating something special or just craving something sweet, Mannino’s offers a showcase of treats to please any palate. But the tried-and-true Italian classics will always rise above the rest.
“The cannoli and the cassata cake — those are numbers one and two,” Spagnuolo said with a laugh. “But we do have beautiful cupcakes out there, and the coffee cakes are always in demand. It’s hard to keep up sometimes.”
Visit Mannino’s Bakery at 4062 17 Mile Road, near Ryan Road, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
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