Steve's Bakery Opens On Route 59 In Shorewood

SHOREWOOD, IL — A new bakery opened Tuesday in Shorewood near the Holy Family Catholic Church along Route 59, and people have been flocking there over the past two days. Steve's Bakery is next to the State Farm Insurance office, located in the commercial strip mall along Route 59 near entrance to the Will County Forest District's Hammel Woods.

Joliet Patch visited Steve's Bakery around noon Wednesday, and the place was packed. Steve's Bakery's workers said that Tuesday's grand opening was a tremendous success. The business address is 570 Brookforest Ave.

Shorewood marks the third location for Steve's Bakery, a small family-run business operated by Steve Elleson. The original Steve's Bakery opened during the mid-1980s in Streator. The family's second long-time location is in Ottawa.

"Steve’s Bakery has remained a local favorite in Streator, Illinois, since Steve Elleson opened its doors in August, 1984," according to the bakery's website. "Steve has been donning that white apron coated in flour since he was a 7 year old working at his father’s bakery."

In Shorewood, Steve's Bakery filled an empty storefront in a commercial strip plaza. Someone was in the process of opening a take and bake pizza business, but it never actually got off the ground, the Steve's Bakery employees told Patch.

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Steve's Bakery told Patch that they believe their new bakery will be a big draw for the town, especially with Holy Family Parish such a short distance away.

"It's a good location and it was pretty steady the whole day," one of the workers told me on Wednesday, as she remained busy helping other customers. "We care about our customers, and we care about our product. We don't get a whole lot of complaints.

"We make all our donuts from scratch," she added.

A sign on the front door notified customers that Steve's Bakery was accepting cash or checks at the moment, but the staff told me they hope to begin taking credit cards as early as Friday.

Steve's Bakery is open Tuesday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 6 a.m. to noon. It will be closed on Mondays.