New bakery opens in Downtown Auburn

Auburn's Nathan and Alice Shreve have known for a decade that they would open their own storefront bakery. But the patient couple took their time to do it right, establishing The Baker and the Cakemaker breads and other products in retail stores throughout the area while setting up booths at farm markets to provide a low-key retail presence. On Tuesday, after several months of preparation, the Shreves unveiled their store and cafe at Pine Street and Lincoln Way in Downtown Auburn — fulfilling a dream that dates back to their days in chef's school together in New York and then while traveling through Europe soaking up ideas and inspiration. When the Lincoln Way location near Auburn's Central Square became available, Nathan said, the time and location was right. The Baker and the Cakemaker is now in a building that once housed the Hilda's Pastries bakery, a staple for a quarter century in Auburn starting in the late 1970s. The new cafe bakery means a move for the North Auburn baking operation. All the baking now takes place Downtown. It also means an increase in staffing from eight to 25, as wholesale and retail is amalgamated in one location, aided by a new oven that rotates the pastries and breads as they bake. In the cafe area, customer seating is in front of a case stocked with new creations as well as old favorites. Nathan said that the mood in the bakery is one of excitement, as it brings a bakery back to Downtown Auburn. "Our goal has always been to do retail and wholesale," he said. "We started looking three years ago and were happy to find this location." Opening day at 1102 Lincoln Way was Tuesday. The menu includes sandwiches, coffee from Valiant coffee roasters in Loomis, and an assortment of pastries. "We have a great community that really came out this week," Alice said. "They comment about having enjoyed our breads and are excited about finding new products." Hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sundays. Later openings, beer, wine and charcuterie plates are a possibility in the future, Alice said.