B.K. Bakery closed its 901 Missouri Blvd. shop last Wednesday, but that doesn't mean owners Brandon and Ida Kelley have left the bakery business.
Sometime next year, they plan to open a continuation of their business under the name "Brioche" in Kansas City.
"There just came an opportunity, and we have six years under our belt and know what's possible and what worked and what didn't," Brandon Kelley said. "It's a continuance, not an end."
B.K. Bakery opened in Jefferson City in 2009, serving specialty pastries and desserts. In July 2013, the bakery added doughnuts to its menu to meet a local demand.
"We didn't plan to get into the doughnut business; the doughnut business was a result of a market speaking," Kelley said. "Us getting into the doughnut business was a way of saying to the community, "We hear you, we're listening, and now we're going to give you what overwhelmingly people are asking for."
The move to Kansas City will be a move away from doughnuts and a move back to what originally inspired Kelley to open the bakery - pastries and desserts.
"After changing my ways to satisfy a market, now we've figured out a way that I can get back to what drove me into starting my own bakery business in the first place," he said. "This is going to allow us to get back to what we're most passionate about."
Personally, the move also will allow the Kelleys to live closer to family.
"When we met in Columbia, she came down here with me to follow my dream of opening the bakery, and later down the road it became her dream after she saw what I was capable of doing," Kelley said. "She thought that we would have loads of success in the Kansas City market, but most importantly an opportunity for her to be back in the area where her family is. When all the pieces kind of fell together and started happening, I thought, "This is our chance.'"
Excitement for their future endeavors doesn't erase some sadness over leaving the Jefferson City area.
"It's definitely bittersweet. It's not because people didn't like us," Kelley said. "We are overly grateful for the support and love that people have given us over six years."
After announcing the decision to close, B.K. Bakery's pastry cases sold out by 8 a.m. on its final two days in business last week, he added. "But regardless, people were coming into the door to an empty case and saying, "We just wanted to make sure we stopped by.' I've gotten cards from little kids. We definitely made an impact and share something with people that they've thoroughly enjoyed."
The Kelleys have not set an official opening date or location for their upcoming Kansas City bakery, but will make further announcements on their new business website, www.briochekc.com.