Snellville Farmers Market Vendor Opens Nearby Bakery

After being closed for a few months, The Lemon Tree Bakery in Loganville officially reopened Tuesday (Dec. 3) under new ownership. 

Matt and Joann Ellstein purchased the Conyers Road business in September after the previous owners were looking to sell the bakery. The Ellsteins, who've had their catering business, Purely Simple Catering, for years, decided to take over after Joann lost her desk job in August. 

Many may recognize the Ellsteins from the Snellville Farmers Market, which they've regularly been a vendor of since it started four years ago. The Lemon Tree is the Ellsteins' first brick and mortar business, though, and as such, it took some time to get everything set up. Hiccups with getting kitchen equipment caused delays with the fire marshal inspections and other requirements by an entire month, since their original open date was Nov. 1.

But the Ellsteins were given the go-ahead Monday (Dec. 2) to open and everything is set now. As a certified pastry chef with an international culinary degree from the Art Institute of Atlanta, Joann is the main chef and baker, and Matt helps with making the different breads. Their daughter Sarah decorates the cakes and helps with baking, and she also the drew the colorful, life-sized lemon tree on the wall behind the front counter. The Ellsteins' two other daughter are still in school but intend to lend a hand on Saturdays. 

"We're really excited about the whole opportunity and everything that comes with it," said Joann. 

The Lemon Tree's menu has an extensive selection of breakfast and lunch items and baked goods. For breakfast, the bakery can whip up egg sandwiches, homemade oatmeal, build-your-own omelets, and cinnamon and vanilla french toast, all ranging from $4.50 to $9.25.

Conquering the lunch menu are Salads and sandwiches priced from $7.75 to $10.25. There are three types of salads, including the "The House Arrest Salad," which is on the sweet side with honey-glazed pecans and field greens, and "The Court Reporter," a traditional Caesar salad. For sandwiches, there's a reuben, a turkey and ham sandwich, a philly cheesesteak, a grilled chicken breast sandwich, a tuna salad sandwich, and one that the Ellsteins call an "Americanized calzone" or a "Hot Pocket done right": They take fresh bread, overstuff it with cheese and three types of meat, bake it to a golden brown and serve it with horseradish sauce. 

As for the bakery side, customers can expect daily English muffins, scones, brownies, chocolate chip cookies and different types of bread, including challah. 

The Ellsteins also are looking to expand their menu with cheesecake, cupcakes, donuts, Danish sandwiches and more. 

Even though they just opened, Matt and Joann have already set a grand opening date for Saturday, Dec. 14. The specifics are still in the works, but Joann is prepping for a food special, and there will be an activity where kids can decorate cupcakes to look like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. 

The Lemon Tree Bakery is located at 780 Conyers Road, Suite 200, in Loganville. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The bakery can be contacted at 770-864-1298.