Taylor Petrehn, of 1900 Barker Bakery and Cafe, is excited to expand his bakery’s presence to Mass Street.
Called 1900 Barker on Mass, the new venue will be located at 816 Massachusetts St., which last housed Alchemy Coffee and Bake House. The new location has dine-in space to seat about 40 to 50 people, Petrehn said.
“We are fortunate to sort of take over such a beautiful building. It has the ability to give us a whole savory kitchen in that space,” Petrehn said. “We’re excited to get to play around a little bit more with the ability to use our bread in products that we’re actually putting out, like sandwiches, breakfast and lunch.”
1900 Barker on Mass will have a liquor license eventually, and Petrehn imagines providing fine wine and a choice collection of cocktails and beer to pair with breakfast pastries, toast and sandwiches. Menu items will build upon Petrehn’s successful breads.
Food and Wine Magazine named the bread at 1900 Barker the very best in Kansas. And Petrehn has made a name for himself as a baker nationally.
In the food service business since 14, Petrehn entered culinary school at Johnson County Community College at age 16, graduating with honors at 19. His baking prowess has been nationally recognized by the James Beard Awards, where he was an outstanding baker semifinalist in 2017 and 2020.
Petrehn discovered that baking was a true passion, and he launched 1900 Barker in 2015.
Delicious toast, sourdough bagels and pastries will be some familiar items on the 1900 Barker on Mass menu, Petrehn said.
Jake Sloan, 1900 Barker general manager, is excited to have the space of a large kitchen.
“We’ve wanted to do more of a restaurant vibe,” Sloan said. “(At the new location) we will actually be able to showcase our products.”
Sloan has served as a chef at 715 and at Momofuku in Las Vegas. He transitioned to 1900 Barker during the pandemic, and he has been excited to be a part of the bakery’s swift growth.
“When I first started two and a half years ago it was one or two bakers and a few baristas, and now we have a new bakery and twice as many employees,” Sloan said.
Once Petrehn hires new staff for 1900 Barker on Mass and does a few test runs, he will be ready to open.
When Petrehn opened Taylor’s Donuts at 19th and Lousiana streets in September 2022, a line snaked around the corner.
Petrehn is reluctant to nail down an opening date, but he anticipates debuting within four to six weeks.
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Chansi Long (she/her) reported for The Lawrence Times from July 2022 through August 2023. Read more of her work for the Times here.
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