The third location for White Tree Bakery is going to be their home for the foreseeable future.
Owner Jen Juhl moved the bakery from her home to First Street Community Center in early 2023, and is now on the corner of First Street in the location of the former Big Creek Emporium and The Nourishing Root.
“I loved my space at First Street Community Center,” Juhl said. “When Meredith approached me about having retail space in uptown Mount Vernon, however, it was one of those ‘I’d be crazy not to make that move.’”
Juhl said she’s been able to have room for a cold case, which allows her to feature items that require refrigeration to keep from melting when in a display case.
The power at the new building has allowed her to get a commercial grade convection oven, which greatly increases the amount of baking she is able to do at one time.
“That’s greatly opened my possibilities for growth with my business,” Juhl said.
While Juhl said she doesn’t have plans to expand to breads or similar baked goods, focusing more on the patisserie baking of desserts and treats instead, she is looking at offering more items, like puff pastries or possibly expanding to deli offerings in the future.
She’ll still have her orders for custom cakes and holiday pies, with the holiday pie orders coming up soon.
Juhl said she has also already noticed a sharp uptick in business with the new location.
“Chili Cook-Off was one of my busiest Saturdays I’ve ever had, and the majority of that was just foot traffic throughout the day,” Juhl said. “I’m excited to be open for more events in uptown Mount Vernon.”
A grand opening for the new space is slated for this weekend.
Third location the charm for White Tree Bakery
November 2, 2023
At the ribbon cutting were: (back, from left) Brenda Langenberg (Hills Bank), Michelle Zaruba (Hills Bank), Joe Jennison (Mount Vernon Lisbon Community Development Group), Casey O’Connor (Town Center Office Suites), John Bardsley (City of Lisbon), Gretchen Lindenboldt (Wren and Purl and Jen’s mother), Tom Wieseler (Mount Vernon mayor)(front, from left) Lisa White (Cornell College) Jen Juhl, Obi Juhl, Iggy Juhl and Brandon Juhl, Courtney Frye Speed (Bridge Community Bank).
About the Contributor
Nathan Countryman, Editor
Nathan Countryman is the Editor of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.