All the ingredients are coming together for a new bakery in the works in downtown Jefferson City.
High Rise Bakery at 118 E. High St. is the latest project of Ben Huhman, who owns The Grand Cafe across the street at 107 E. High St.
The bakery, set for a late spring opening, will serve brunch as well as quick-service breakfast and lunch items.
The idea for the bakery rose from the already successful bakery service of The Grand Cafe and its baker, Candice Sheppard.
"She's running out of space - she's kind of got a following," Huhman said.
That increased following at the restaurant, which opened in 2012, left The Grand Cafe with a bit of a kitchen problem.
"The cooks are there for lunch and dinner, and then she's there from morning 'til mid-afternoon. So there's a time there where it's really cramped," Huhman said. "She's still going to supply The Grand with all the desserts and breads and things like that that she makes over there now; she's just going to have her own space to do it in."
The idea for a dedicated bakery space "spiraled" into the opportunity to serve a full brunch seven days a week, he added.
High Rise Bakery will offer a standard a la carte brunch menu, along with daily changing grab-and-go items like salads, sandwiches, breakfast breads and parfaits, and fruit.
Specialty drinks including juices, craft sodas, and wine and beer will be available; and call-ahead orders of carryout box lunches and sandwich and cookie trays will be accepted.
It will be open 7 a.m.-2 p.m. seven days a week.
Eventually, Huhman hopes to add a special, bigger Sunday brunch.
And don't forget the coffee.
"We're going to be a bakery that's got a good coffee service," Huhman said.
Justin Duren will be the friendly face behind the coffee counter at the front of High Rise Bakery. The experienced barista was there last week setting up coffee equipment that had just arrived, preparing the bakery to offer full coffee service with espresso drinks like lattes and cappuccinos.
The new bakery is intended as something new for Jefferson City as well as something new for the building that houses it. Vacant since the early 2000s when a financial services firm operated out of the space, revamping the building has included exposing the interior brick walls and adding concrete countertops.
The space will be available to rent for evening events like dinners and cocktail parties, as well as daytime gatherings like business meetings and wedding showers. A mezzanine seating area can hold about 50 people, with overall space for about 80, Huhman said.
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