Sometimes it seems an incredible amount of time passes from my first article about a coming business and its actual opening. Other times I’m startled at how quickly it seems to happen. That’s how I feel about Wild Love Bakehouse. It was only about ten weeks ago that I wrote about Shaun and Meg Parrish’s plans to open the new business at 1625 N. Central Street. They and their crew have been hard at work and now they are ready to tentatively open their doors this evening and open them for good at 7:00 AM Monday morning.
Fans of Old City Java will recognize some things, but for the most part the two will be very different from each other. Wild Love Bakehouse will offer Counter Culture coffee exclusively, whereas there are several suppliers at Java Old City. Each team at the two businesses will have the latitude to make their own decisions about which specific beans are brewed. You’ll also have an option to select your favorite Rishi organic tea.
You’ll find some of the same great Wild Love baked goods, but you’ll find a far greater selection, including cakes and pies. The attached kitchen, which is exponentially larger than the previous kitchen will serve both locations, meaning it will be carried out of the kitchen hot and ready to serve.
Eventually, the food offerings will likely be expanded to include a variety of grab-and-go savory options. Soup, salads, grain bowls and other healthy options will also be added as the staff feels ready. The food will be prepped fresh daily right before lunch and one of the cool features includes a window through which you can watch some of the food being prepared or preserved.
The seating is quite different, as well, and includes several options. Long tables provide seating for larger parties or, more likely for you and new friends. It has a very community feel, though options are provided by taller chairs around the perimeter pulled up to a mounted bar for eating. The bonus offered by those seats is the views out the great windows. The light in both the coffee house portion and the kitchen is spectacular thanks to great plans that called for very large windows.
A large deck outside also is a good-weather option and wooden seats are built in around the edges there. Lighting and other features outside, such as lighting, will be added in coming weeks or months. A permanent outdoor fire pit might be a good addition. The hope is to activate the area outside which forms a natural square with Wild Love on one side, Mid Mod Collective to the rear and a yet-to-be-developed building facing Wild Love. Just across the street, Emerald Avenue United Methodist Church offers a picturesque top the square.
Two new bakers have been hired, as well as four new baristas for the new location. Two baristas moved from Old City Java to the new business, meaning two new baristas were hired for the old business. Got that? In short, eight positions have been added by this expansion. That’s how small businesses make a difference in a community.
Shaun suggested that we need to expect an evolution as they go. The food will expand and evolve depending on readiness of staff and demand. The hours, initially set at 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Friday and 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, could change as well, depending on how the flow of business goes. It’s hard to predict. There’s nothing like it nearby.
So, come out tonight and check out Mid Mod Collective and their 1st birthday and Wild Love Bakehouse with their grand opening. You’ll find Christmas trees to take home just across the street at Smoky Mountain Vintage Lumber and much more happening all around the square. Be sure to “like” Wild Love Bakehouse on Facebook. As I write this they have 678 likes. That needs to cross 1000 right away. I hope to see you there this evening.