Baking science class, meet late night dessert bar. The venue? A storefront for Baked Lab, 2044 Atwood Ave. The fresh, modern bakery offering desserts, wine and beer opened Feb. 21, making it the perfect new spot to check out after thawing out from winter hibernation.

Founder Shawn Bolduc began Baked Lab in 2019, starting with homemade treats and wedding cakes. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Bolduc pivoted to teaching baking classes online, hosting sessions for folks all across the country. After the pandemic, he continued to grow the business, moving into incubator spaces to sell wholesale desserts to local coffee shops, and eventually establishing this storefront on Atwood.

While the first pillars of the business — cakes and classes — remain integral to this iteration of Baked Lab, the physical space will offer a new way to welcome people into a community. Bolduc’s previous career in nonprofits and the arts left him with an indelible impression about the importance of relationships and community building.

“In this current climate, creating another safe space for people to come together and connect is super important to me,” he explained.

After a year of design and renovation, the Atwood storefront reflects Bolduc’s clean aesthetic and attention to detail with a desire for connection. With an open floor plan, dessert lovers can watch bakers at work in the kitchen crafting their delicious treats. A long communal table encourages folks to gather around. Along the white-tiled walls, a massive black pegboard proudly displays vintage cookware a la Julia Child.

The vision for Baked Lab is less work-cafe and more “I don’t want to go home just yet.” It’s the place to go when the night is too good to end just yet. It will serve wine, beer and coffee from Nordskov Coffee Co., a Wisconsin-based roaster specializing in cold brew coffee, alongside fan-favorite baked goods like the browned butter Krispie treat.

The store opens at 11 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 10 a.m. Saturdays. It closes at 10 p.m. all three days.

Previous Next