Bake Me Happy is settling in at its new home. The gluten-free bakery recently made a one-mile move on the South Side to 500 E. Whittier St.
While it certainly had become a destination, Co-Founder Letha Pugh says she didn’t realize just how tucked away they were at their Moler Street address. Now at the busy intersection of Whittier Street and Parsons Avenue, Pugh says they’ve seen an influx of new customers.
Customers new and old will still find Bake Me Happy’s line up of gluten-free goodies, spanning scones and cookies, to riffs on nostalgic treats like Zebra Cakes and King Dongs. There’s a line up of coffee, tea and espresso drinks to wash it all down.
Soon enough there will be some new additions to the menu as well. Although the space is the same square footage as their old location, “Because we had a hand in the design of it, workflow is better for us,” Pugh says.
That efficiency will pave the way for more menu items like breakfast sandwiches, and Pugh says her wife and Co-Founder, Wendy, and team have been busy brainstorming other new ideas.
The location also serves as the primary bakery for Bake Me Happy’s wholesale accounts, as well as its location inside the North Market Bridge Park.
A pivot from the pandemic, Bake Me Happy is continuing to ramp up its selection of gluten-free grocery items as well. More shelving for more goods, and beer and wine, are on the way.
Bake Me Happy made a pointed decision to stay on the South Side, purchasing the building that was formerly a Post Office.
“It is an example of what is possible, particularly for small businesses and marginalized businesses,” Pugh says.
They’ve seen a lot of support from the neighborhood, as a tide seems to be shifting in the area.
“The South Side is coming around,” Pugh says. “We believe in it and I think the more businesses that come and the more city support we have, I think the more the area will thrive.”
Bake Me Happy will celebrate its new location with a grand opening ribbon cutting on Saturday, October 29 at 11 a.m. Regular hours are 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Bake Me Happy’s website is currently down for maintenance. Follow the bakery on Instagram at @bakemehappygf or order online here.
All photos by Susan Post
