Opening Day
Dearest friends,
It’s hard to believe I am writing to tell you that this coming Monday, December 11, 2023, Tommy’s Whole Grain bakery will open to the public in Vancouver, BC. I am beyond grateful for everyone who has worked with me, supported and encouraged me, and contributed to this project. I simply could not have done this on my own. Thank you to everyone who has been here since day one, you have helped me find my voice. Thank you to everyone who has recently subscribed, your interest and enthusiasm to see a whole grain bakery in Vancouver inspires me and lifts me during challenging times. With everything going on, I think I can honestly say I have never been more grateful for the opportunities I have in my life as I am right now.
For those of you planning on coming to see us next week, we can’t wait to receive you. Let me give you an idea of what you can expect:
From the sidewalks of Powell Street, you will see our window display that went up recently. Designed by my incredibly talented wife, Kat, and printed and installed by East Van Vinyl, our windows set the tone for the fun, creative, and friendly environment we want to welcome you into. Inside you will see our newly installed pastry counter. Tile work was done by my long-time friend, Ehren, to whom I am ever grateful for his generosity. Pastry glass has yet to be installed, and we will open with certain aspects yet to be completed.
Luckily, there was not much else to be done in the front. The brick walls of our 1912 building speak for themselves, and the surrounding fir accents put in during the 2019 renovation work perfectly for our space.
I have been working side-by-side with Charlie-May, as well as our bake team, Cheryl, Eli, and Mariana. The effort they put in these last few weeks has made the space what it is: something I am so proud to show you and the public.
We have passed all of our inspections, including most recently, our health inspection. There are many small details and kinks to sort out, but I trust you will be patient with us as we work through them. Please come knowing we are still finding our legs in our newly minted space. Years ago, I was exhibiting photography, and a friend told me not to stand next to my work and point out the dust under the frame. I won’t bore you with the fine details of what still has to get done.
Things you can be certain of:
We open at 8am.
We will have coffee and tea. (coffee by Honest to Pete, Vancouver small-batch roaster)
We will have whole grain breads in various forms. (Most grains from Cedar Isle Farm, in Agassiz, BC)
There will be sweet and savory treats.
This newsletter deserves to be longer, so please excuse me for cutting it short. There is really just so much left to do to get ready. Please help us make our opening week a big success. Please take the time to like and comment on this post. Sharing this post or our social media posts are incredibly impactful and a great way for us to grow our following. Once you’ve had the chance to visit, please consider leave us a 5-star review on Google.
I’m off to the farmer’s market, before we begin our first mixes. Planning on going Live on Instagram if there is time this weekend, please keep an eye out for that.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I hope to see you on Monday.
Awesome!! Can't wait to visit!