Longtime friends Crystal Berg (left) and Andrea “Annie” Leck stand behind a collection of Barn Door Baking Co. offerings Saturday, Oct. 14, the first of the business’s open bakery days. (Maia Zewert photo)
For the past year, Damariscotta’s Barn Door Baking Co. has mostly focused on custom orders, wholesale goods, and catering. On Saturday, Oct. 14, the company launched its newest venture: weekend “open bakery” hours.
Opened by longtime friends Andrea “Annie” Leck and Crystal Berg in the fall of 2016, Barn Door Baking Co. operates out of the barn attached to Crissy’s Breakfast and Coffee Bar, at 212 Main St. in Damariscotta. The two businesses also share kitchen space.
The decision to open the bakery’s doors on weekends came about naturally. When customers came to pick up an order, it wasn’t uncommon for them to also purchase baked goods that had come right out of the oven, Leck said.
The entrance to Barn Door Baking Co. at 212 Main St. in Damariscotta. (Maia Zewert photo)
With wedding season winding down and Damariscotta Pumpkinfest in the rearview mirror, Berg and Leck decided to open the barn doors and sell their baked goods on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the fall.
“People kept asking when we were going to start this up, and we figured, with things not so busy in the kitchen this time of year, it would be good to try it now. There’s very little risk involved,” Berg said.
Starting Saturday, Oct. 14, Barn Door Baking Co. will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends with a selection of baked goods available for purchase. While customer favorites, including croissants and cinnamon buns, will likely be on the shelves, the offerings will vary day to day. The baking company will reveal the menu each morning on Facebook and Instagram, Berg said.
Barn Door Baking Co. also hopes to use open bakery days to experiment with some new items, including savory offerings, Leck said.
“It’s a perfect seasonal pop-up for us to be creative and experiment in our own building,” Leck said. “We’re working with what we have and we’re making the most of it.”
Barn Door Baking Co.’s open bakery days will run through Sunday, Dec. 31. The business accepts cash, checks, and credit and debit cards.
For more information, go to barndoorbakingcompany.com or find Barn Door Baking Company on Facebook and Instagram.
