New Port Washington Bakery Also Caters to Canine Tastes

A new Port Washington ba(r)kery is open for business, so make sure to tell your friends — and your dogs.

For business owner Chad Van De Voord, a pastry chef by trade, his new Grand Avenue location, formerly the Portside Pizzeria, fit just what he needed to open a combined bakery, "barkery" and ceramics shop. Van De Voord has been doing ceramics for 25 years, and he previously owned two bakeries in Illinois.

"I always had a ceramics pet section with dog bowls, so I figured, why not incorporate homemade dog biscuits?" Van De Voord said.

He now has three separate businesses housed at 477 W. Grand Ave.: Sweet Buns Bakery, with bread, danish, cookie and cinnamon roll specialties; CJ's Country Ceramics, which provides finished pieces, classes and supplies; and The Barkery for dog biscuits.

Van De Voord said he was drawn to this location not only for its placement in Port, but also for something left behind by the previous tenant: an old-fashioned pizza oven.

"It's great. I use it every day," he said, standing only slightly taller than the mammoth oven that has survived throughout the years. Though seemingly antique, Van De Voord said it works like a charm.

Van De Voord has lived in Port Washington for five years, coming from Illinois for a change of scenery and being closer to family, he said. Before he opened his businesses, he was the food director for Ellen's Home assisted living.

Van De Voord will soon launch a beverage line, including coffee, soda and bottled water, and he will serve hot ham on Sundays.

What: New Port businesses: CJ's Country Ceramics, Sweet Buns Bakery and The Barkery

Where: 477 W. Grand Ave., formerly Portside Pizzeria

Contact: 262-229-5136