I first wrote about Five Points Bakery back in April (see post), just after they opened. Since that time I've found myself becoming a regular at the bakery for, if nothing more, peace of mind. It is so refreshing to so a business open for all of the right reasons, to stay true to its original mission even if that means more work, and grow in such a way that the positive effects ripple throughout the community.
You might say that the bakery is in the ever-expanding business of researching and implementing best-practice methods in order to share healthy, affordable food with the community. And when you build your business for all of the right reasons, and you can provide goods and services that people come to depend on, and your offerings ultimately reflect the complex profile of your customer base, then you can hopefully look at the bottom line and be happy. I'm happy to report that Five Points Bakery is operating in the black and is very close to paying off initial loans.
Each time I walk through the doors of Five Point Bakery I find something that I never expected to see. Yesterday it was the organic bean burritos that were provided by the bakery's Saturday afternoon Bean Burrito Cooperative. Once a week bakery customers come together to teach and learn how to make the freshest bean burritos made with all locally purchased ingredients. This uber-kid-friendly destination has also provided a makeshift play space for the kids of the parents who come together for these bean cooperatives - measures practiced to keep employees happy at many of the large corporations (though Five Point promotes more of a free range philosophy).
These days, customers can expect to find a much wider variety of foods at Five Points, all of which are made in-house or by the community - always sourcing local ingredients. New items include Go Veggie Burgers, potato and eggplant curry, Genga rolls, organic ice cream, grass fed dry-aged free range meats, purple dragon carrots, free range eggs (brig your own container - $3.50 per dozen), hot sauce, pastas, jellies and jams, grains and flours, syrup, granola, apple cider and pizza. It's almost like having a permanent indoor farmers market on the West Side. The eggs are colorful (actually beautiful), fresh and kept un-refrigerated just like your great grandparents would have bought them. Although I like their hot coffee, their iced version is made with frozen cubes of coffee to keep the drink from getting watered down.
Five Points is always on the hunt for additional products to fill their cabinets. At this point, Kevin Gardner (photo: former punk rocker turned earth avenger) is looking for a place to purchase wholesale free-range chickens, raisins and walnuts. He and his wife Melissa have just ordered locally made soaps and lip balm made with honey that are on their way... does it get any better? Yes it does. On Thursdays (2-5pm) and Saturdays 10am-2pm) Melis Goff sets up her chair massage operation to alleviate any stress build up in Five Point customers - just one more feature that you might not expect when walking into a neighborhood bakery.
Five Points Bakery (adjoining Urban Roots Garden Cooperative)
426 Rhode Island Street
Buffalo, NY 14213-2312
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You might say that the bakery is in the ever-expanding business of researching and implementing best-practice methods in order to share healthy, affordable food with the community. And when you build your business for all of the right reasons, and you can provide goods and services that people come to depend on, and your offerings ultimately reflect the complex profile of your customer base, then you can hopefully look at the bottom line and be happy. I'm happy to report that Five Points Bakery is operating in the black and is very close to paying off initial loans.
Each time I walk through the doors of Five Point Bakery I find something that I never expected to see. Yesterday it was the organic bean burritos that were provided by the bakery's Saturday afternoon Bean Burrito Cooperative. Once a week bakery customers come together to teach and learn how to make the freshest bean burritos made with all locally purchased ingredients. This uber-kid-friendly destination has also provided a makeshift play space for the kids of the parents who come together for these bean cooperatives - measures practiced to keep employees happy at many of the large corporations (though Five Point promotes more of a free range philosophy).
These days, customers can expect to find a much wider variety of foods at Five Points, all of which are made in-house or by the community - always sourcing local ingredients. New items include Go Veggie Burgers, potato and eggplant curry, Genga rolls, organic ice cream, grass fed dry-aged free range meats, purple dragon carrots, free range eggs (brig your own container - $3.50 per dozen), hot sauce, pastas, jellies and jams, grains and flours, syrup, granola, apple cider and pizza. It's almost like having a permanent indoor farmers market on the West Side. The eggs are colorful (actually beautiful), fresh and kept un-refrigerated just like your great grandparents would have bought them. Although I like their hot coffee, their iced version is made with frozen cubes of coffee to keep the drink from getting watered down.
Five Points is always on the hunt for additional products to fill their cabinets. At this point, Kevin Gardner (photo: former punk rocker turned earth avenger) is looking for a place to purchase wholesale free-range chickens, raisins and walnuts. He and his wife Melissa have just ordered locally made soaps and lip balm made with honey that are on their way... does it get any better? Yes it does. On Thursdays (2-5pm) and Saturdays 10am-2pm) Melis Goff sets up her chair massage operation to alleviate any stress build up in Five Point customers - just one more feature that you might not expect when walking into a neighborhood bakery.
Five Points Bakery (adjoining Urban Roots Garden Cooperative)
426 Rhode Island Street
Buffalo, NY 14213-2312
anyone know days/hours they're open?
Tuesday-Wednesday 8-3
Thursday-Saturday 8-6
Sunday 10-2