Breadhead Bakery adds itself to the roster of Geary Avenue's thriving food neighbourhood, officially announcing their move into a space inside the Artisan Factory at 346 Westmoreland Avenue this past week. This bakery is most known as the city's home for crullers and bagel bombs -- a hot commodity trademarked offering, which are brioche buns filled with whipped cream cheese and chives, topped with everything bagel seasoning.
Deeming the new location "Breadheadquarters," owner, Lucy Kirby says the space will act as a production facility for her famous baked goods and a spot for online pre-orders, so no retail sales out of here anytime soon, but it's definitely something the future will hold. Previously working out of shared spaces with White Squirrel Coffee Shop and before that, baking at home and selling her products through The Vatican Gift Shop on the east side of the city, this new spot marks a significant milestone in the advancement of the bakery, which only began in March 2020.
"The steady growth of Breadhead has been something I'm super proud of. I've worked for so many money-hungry people that just need cash flow immediately, and it's just not my style. I want to keep my staff happy, and I also want to keep myself happy (not burnt out)," says Kirby. "This new space will allow us to double our production, our staff and ideally, in a perfect world, we will open a retail store in the next year or two. This is what I call the 'Teenage Phase.' We're not quite exactly where we want to be, but we're growing and turning into our best selves."
The trek to get this spot ready in the past month has been a long one, with Kirby getting COVID-19 in mid-December a few weeks after acquiring the space, forcing her to cancel all weekend orders leading up to Christmas. With the support of her loved ones, Kirby still managed to get the space ready to go, with only a couple weeks' delay.
"It was my nightmare. It forced me to rest and slow down," says Kirby. "I've had so much help from family and friends moving everything; I'm just so lucky. I love the power of community. I'm so looking forward to being in The Artisan Factory, among some of my favourite artists and chefs. The space has a really great energy and I cant wait to meet/feed everyone in it. We have an open-door policy for the other tenants and, of course, our wonderful landlord Claudio."
Outside of pre-orders at the Artisan Factory, you can find an array of Breadhead products at some of your favourite small businesses. For a specific list of what items each location offers, be sure to check out their website. White Squirrel Coffee Shop in Trinity Bellwoods and Happy Coffee and Wine in Parkdale carry a variety of Breadhead goods all the time, while Larry's Folly in Parkdale receives donuts and bagel bombs on weekends and Extra Burger on Oakwood gets in classic carrot cake by the slice.
"I generally like to partner with small businesses that fit my *vibe* and that carry the same values as we do," says Kirby, who notes she's always on the lookout to slowly add a few more shops to supply to her roster.
Baked good offerings typically include a rotating selection of donuts, galettes, buns, cookies, pies, cakes and more, with flavours that tend to change with the seasons. As the warmer weather rolls around, Kirby is excited to add more items to her shop, including croissants, cronuts and kouign-amann.
Get your Breadhead Bakery pre-orders in via their website. Orders go live Saturdays around 4 p.m. for delivery or pick-up the following weekend and close Wednesdays at noon. Follow Breadhead on Instagram to stay updated with all the latest happenings and additions to the online menu.
