Aki’s Bread Haus opened for business at 1712 Marshall St. NE on Friday, Oct. 18. “We would have opened on Thursday, but we had to wait for one more city inspector,” said co-owner Aki Berndt. “We were on the edge at our old place [next to Fair State Brewing Cooperative on Central Avenue]. We had to use our van to store stuff.”
It didn’t take the staff of 11very long to begin turning out fruit-filled streusels, brötchen and pretzels. The new bakery is bright and features floor-to-ceiling windows on the Marshall Street side, offering passersby a chance to watch the bakers in action. Aki’s also has a wholesale business that provides fresh baked goods to breweries, restaurants and hotels around the Twin Cities. Although they’re currently open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-noon on Saturday, expect new hours soon. Co-owner Nancy Marone, who runs the business side of Aki’s, said the companion Wunder Bar Wine Cafe will open this month. Expect a grand opening celebration soon.
Nancy Marone, co-owner of Aki’s Bread Haus and the Wunder Bar Wine Cafe, and co-owner and baker Aki Berndt are excited about their new location on Marshall Street. (Cynthia Sowden)
Floor-to-ceiling windows along the Marshall Street side of the building allow passersby to watch the bakers at work. (Cynthia Sowden)