Plate and Pour Bakery in Jefferson City has offered a cozy environment for coffee lovers and pastry fans alike for almost a year, but the team behind the counter is preparing to step away from the business at the end of 2022.
The small bakery, run by Laura and Roger Whitmore and their son, Tanner, opened in November on the bottom floor of the Baptist Building on High Street and quickly became a popular spot for its environment and aesthetic, lined with plants and signs, as well as its treats and the smiles behind the counter. The Whitmores, who moved to the area to be closer to their grandchildren and decided to move on a longtime dream by opening the business, said it had been difficult to balance the work of starting a new business and time with their family.
"It's definitely a decision to be more available and be around family more," Laura Whitmore said. "We've always talked about doing something like this, and we're glad we tried it and it's been a great adventure. It's absolutely been a success. Really, this is just about choosing family."
She said the family has made plenty of friends during the time Plate and Pour has been in business, and they sought to build a personal connection with their customers, many of whom have dropped by since the change was announced on social media last week. Despite the warm reception to the business, the long hours and varied schedules required to run a small shop left them without the time they had hoped to have with their family, she said.
While the Whitmores won't be running the business for much longer, that doesn't necessarily mean the unique spot is going to disappear for good: The couple said it is listed for sale with the hopes a new owner will take over and steer the business into its next chapter.
Roger Whitmore said an older couple had made their way in early Thursday to buy pastries and lament the upcoming change, one of many examples of the community reaching out to lend their support and appreciation for the business.
"They said, 'There's nothing like it in Jefferson City, and we don't want to see it go,'" he said. "It's been wonderful to make an impact on people like that, and we do hope that it stays open and becomes a staple in town -- we're just not the ones to do that right now."
"We would provide our support to anyone who did end up buying it," Laura Whitmore said. "We would want to stick around and help them. We couldn't be here all of the time, but we would try and make sure they could be successful as well."
Plate and Pour is located at 400 E. High St. on the bottom floor of the Baptist Building. It is open 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays.
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