Long-time friends open bakery in Medina

Photo by Tom Rivers – Lissa Stewart-Jones, left, and Lori Brien opened The Bread Basket in Medina on Monday.

MEDINA – Two friends since the third grade have joined together to pursue a life-long passion: baking and Medina.

Lissa Stewart-Jones and Lori Brien, both accountants, on Monday opened The Bread Basket at 513 Main St., the site of Reigle’s Market.

The Bread Basket continues to offer produce from the Reigle family farm and has kept many of their popular baked goods, especially the cinnamon rolls.

“We liked them and everybody else liked them,” Stewart-Jones said about the rolls. “Little by little we will add our own recipes.”

They praised the Reigle family for showing the site can be a success as a bakery with fresh produce. Some of the Reigle fruit and vegetables will be used in the baked goods, including blueberry streusel that was available today.

The Reigles closed in June so the family could follow their full-time passion: farming.

Stewart-Jones and Brien saw an opportunity to keep the business going. They are among the first to open on the street each morning. They arrive at 5:30 a.m. and open the doors at 7:30. They will stay open to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

They are pleased to be part of a vibrant Main Street and downtown business district.

“Medina is in a good place right now with this charming downtown,” Brien said. “We’re just happy to be a part of it.”

The two business partners want to put an awning on the building and add outdoor seating.

They will have a grand opening on July 27, offering free coffee and tastings of the baked goods.