Bakery Not Yet Rising at New Downtown Storefront

When the Backerei in July, its owner had hoped to reopen the bakery and café in August under a new name, relocating it a few blocks away at 123 N. Water St.

As renovations to the new location remain in the planning phase, the date customers can expect to be acquainted with its new surroundings is unknown.

Previously used as office space, transforming the 1,300-square-foot first floor of the more than 110-year-old building into space suitable to her business requires several structural and electrical system upgrades, owner Andrea Berry said.

"Things are slow … Unfortunately, there is a lot more work involved than anybody anticipated," she said.

Strengthening the floor to withstand the weight of Berry’s kitchen equipment, which remains at the now-closed, former location at 120 S. Water St., and other renovations require architectural plans to proceed with those changes, she said.

Kent architect John Zeit is drawing up those plans, which when approved will allow the city to issue Berry the permits required to make the upgrades.

"It is a very old building," Zeit said. "I’m pleased that I’m able to work on a downtown building in Kent, which I consider a very important thing to revitalize right now, and am glad to be a part of it."

To meet state code requirements, the city made recommendations for additional changes to plans submitted May 18 and June 15, according to Kent building department records.

"The equipment she’s putting in there is very heavy, and the floor needs to be strengthened," said Robert Nitzsche, chief building official for the City of Kent. "When you make a switch from a totally different use, you take a bakery and put it into an office, you have to make change. It’s about making the building fit the business." 

The building owner of the former site of the Backerei, George Istocki, said he has made no plans yet for future use of the 120 S. Water St. space while Berry works to finish her move.

Berry has not settled on the new name her bakery and café will reopen under.

"That’s still up in the air," she said. "I really want it to stick with people who hear the name, so they’ll know exactly what it is," she said.

Until the bakery and café open at the new location, Berry’s booth is still a regular presence at the Haymaker Farmers Market on Saturdays and at the Brimfield Farmers Market on Wednesdays.

To place small orders or for catering services, customers can call Berry at 330-256-0790.