Overview
- In Hamtramck, New Palace Bakery opened at 3 a.m., drawing a block-long queue to the city’s last Polish bakery as multi‑generation customers snapped up boxes, including a special Cinnacream flavor.
- Scale matched the enthusiasm: Zingerman’s Bakehouse produced 4,131 paczki for the day, while Carpathia Polish Deli in Schererville expected roughly 10,000 to 11,000 in a single day.
- Bakeries leaned on advance orders and limited walk‑ins, with pre‑dawn operations reported from Detroit to Milwaukee and Cleveland, where Rudy’s Strudel offered 31 flavors, including several savory options.
- Seasonal spinoffs returned in Detroit, including Paczki Beer from Eastern Market Brewing, a limited Paczki Vodka release from Detroit City Distillery, a Dubai chocolate paczki at Cantoro, and the one‑day Coney paczki.
- Community traditions also raised money, as Bennison’s Bakery’s paczki‑eating contest in Evanston directed this year’s proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Association, while some shops offered alternatives like kolaczki for those seeking lighter bites.