Bakery Journey, Part 1

This is the first of many bakery posts to come.

I signed the lease for my dream space exactly two months ago. It was right before Christmas, in the midst of holiday chaos and after six weeks of negotiation. I don’t think I slept much during those six weeks. I’d wake up in the middle of the night, wondering if the landlord had a change of heart or if someone had offered more rent. They say don’t get attached until it’s a done deal, but that was not in the cards for me.

Right before finding it, I hit a bit of a wall. I’d been searching for a space for two years and saw dozens of spots. Some piqued my interest, but most left me uninspired, and I never had “the feeling.” I started to wonder if the universe was sending me a sign that maybe it wasn’t meant to be. I tried to shove that feeling away because it was utterly crushing to question my dream. So I decided to give myself some grace and accept that my journey was going to take a bit longer; patience is a practice.

But then, like fate, late one evening on my way home from a friend’s party, I snapped a photo of a “For Lease” sign out the window of an Uber.

Of course, my photo was blurry and the number far from legible. So I wandered over first thing the next morning to get the information and called immediately. Next thing I knew, I was back the following day with the super. I ran (literally) straight over to the management office to meet with the landlord, which happened to be right on my block. I took it as a sign, dropped cookies off later that day, and that was the beginning of a flurry of six weeks. During those six weeks, I think I only walked through the space three more times, but I drove by nearly every day—imagining, manifesting, saying a little prayer. It was more expensive than I wanted, bigger than I imagined, but it also had so much more potential. A corner. Big windows, high ceilings, sidewalk seating.

And now, I’m writing this two months later. Two months of having the keys and reminding myself that this is happening. Two months of waking up in the middle of the night with new creeping thoughts like: When will we have a contractor signed on? Who will I hire? What do I know about running a bakery? A lot of imposter-syndrome thoughts popping up and needing a good shove. It’s a new set of concerns, but ones I’ve been so desperately wanting for the past two years.

This phase of the project is fun—it’s the dreaming stage. I’m working with two of my closest friends on the interior, Beatrice and Nathan, founders of Studio N&TL. Bea and I have been best friends since high school and have been sharing a love language for beautiful things ever since. Antiques, swimming in the sea, a beautiful meal, linens in the breeze, secret gardens—we’re always seeking out romance and beauty in every moment. So many photos exchanged and objects shared over the years. In many ways, we’ve been finding our taste together and have a deep understanding of each other’s visual worlds. So to say the design is everything I had ever dreamed of is an understatement. It’s a visual history, layered with moments, and every detail is so intentional and thoughtful.

We’ve spent the last two months carefully considering the design and materials—studying finishes that will look more beautiful with wear and feel both familiar and luxurious. I’m thrilled to share that we are working with the incredible Castelli Marble for the flooring. From floor to ceiling, we are crafting a space that will transport you somewhere beautiful, highlighting natural materials and craftsmanship everywhere.

Days have been filled with walk-throughs with contractors, electricians, plumbers, painters, insurance inspectors, and so on. Early mornings and evenings are dedicated to permitting, planning, and fundraising. There are so many layers to opening a brick-and-mortar, and I’m learning it all on the fly. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but then I look around and see businesses lining the streets and take a deep breath. It’s just part of the process.

Little details are being stitched together, too. My dear friend and incredible seamstress, Fiona, is creating the sweetest aprons for employees to wear. Another amazing human and friend, Devin, is refining my branding and creating new assets for the shop. We’ve also gone on our first sourcing trip, rented a truck, and picked up the most beautiful antique hutch for the shop and a sweet table for a window display. In the kitchen, my studio manager, Carley, and I are hard at work testing recipes and refining our favorites. Friends trickle over for tasting parties, and I drop off bags of sweets to my neighbors with Post-it notes attached so they can text me their favorites. It’s then that all my worries fade away, and I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be.

The vision is coming to life. It’s a roller coaster of emotion and labor, but all so deeply rewarding. I’m making sure to take moments to pause, reflect, and soak in this journey. But also not get fully lost in it, because my life outside this project is just as important, and I don’t want to miss any precious moments of it.

In my next installment here, I hope to report new updates: fingers crossed—a contractor working in the space, permitting progress, design updates, and which new recipes are finalized. The perfect banana bread and my favorite muffin on the face of the earth are up next for recipe testing.