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Family photos adorn the walls and vintage tables and chairs line the perimeter of Jojo’s Bakery in Westlake, as the smell of freshly baked bread and cinnamon rolls wafts through the building.
Jojo’s Bakery opened in March 2025 by owner Lily Swartz, serving up homemade baked goods, breakfast and cakes.
The background
Swartz said she dreamed of opening a bakery since she was 10 years old.
She grew up in the kitchen with her grandmother Joann, or “Jojo,” and has always shared her grandmother’s love of food, she said.
“I always wanted a bakery,” Swartz said. “In high school I would work in bakeries during my summer breaks.”
After attending the Culinary Institute of America after high school and working in several bakeries, including The Commodore Perry Estate and South Congress Hotel, Swartz turned her dream into a reality in the Westlake neighborhood she grew up in.
“We did most of the build out ourselves,” she said. “I grew up in this neighborhood and the opportunity presented itself, so I went for it.”
Swartz’s mom, brother and cousin all work at Jojo’s.
“Working with family is the most special part and the hardest part,” she said. “When it’s good, it’s really incredible.”
On the menu
Many baked goods served at Jojo’s use the same starter dough—a recipe from Swartz’s grandmother.
“That recipe is one of the things that inspired us to name the bakery after her ... . It’s a family recipe,” Swartz said.
Beyond the popular cinnamon rolls and seasonal kolaches, Jojo’s also offers a variety of breakfast and lunch items including pancakes, salads, sandwiches and breakfast tacos with homemade tortillas.
Jojo’s Bakery emphasizes locally and sustainably sourced ingredients by utilizing seasonal produce, pasture-raised eggs and nitrate-free proteins.
The impact
Swartz has lived in the Cuernavaca neighborhood near the bakery for most of her life and has come to know most of the community, she said.
“We make their cakes ... we know when they’re having their baby,” Swartz said. “That’s what sets us apart ... if you’re a customer here, you’re known by us.”
Swartz hopes that in the following years, Jojo’s Bakery will continue to grow and “keep doing more of what they’re doing.”
“Creating something that is a permanent part of the community and making good food ... it just feels good,” she said. “Even though it’s hard work, it’s rewarding.”
