A new bakery is providing customers with a unique experience, letting them watch the store’s skilled workers craft fresh loaves and pastries.
Walter’s Artisan Bakery, owned by husband-and-wife David and Bambi Mares and their daughter Samantha Andrews, has opened on the main street of Nambour.
Mr Mares said customers were enjoying the fresh fare.
“The community is very supportive of the bakery and what we offer, like a croissant or sweet treat with a coffee,” he said.
He said it was the perfect location for the family to open a shop.
“We are here to support the locals, and this is the gateway to the hinterland which gives Walter’s the opportunity to showcase our baked goods to a large area of the Sunshine Coast.”
The bakery offers fresh croissants, danish, sourdough (made without yeast), gourmet pies, sausage rolls, coffee and more.
The store is different to most bakeries.
“Walter’s is a location for customers to see how a bakery functions while sitting and enjoying the products made in store,” Mr Mares said.
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“Customers can enjoy the aroma of sourdough and sit and watch our bakers at work through the glass, partitioning, making sourdough and pasties.
“They can watch sourdough being baked in our large oven and then buy it fresh from the oven.”
The business was started by Walter Meyer, who moved it to the Big Pineapple, wholesaling sourdough, Turkish rolls and cakes.
The business was purchased by the Mares family who have continued wholesaling and now retail with an expanded range of fresh products out of Nambour.
Daughter Samantha, a trained barista, operates the café, and there are 16 full-time staff members and three part-time workers.
Mr Mares said the business could expand its offerings by allowing patrons to get hands-on.
“Future plans are for customers to have private lessons in the bakery, making Walter’s sourdough,” he said.
The store has already received plenty of plaudits from people on social media.
“Food, coffee and service was excellent,” Gerardine Lennon said.
“OMG, pastries are divine,” Cath Grayson said.
“I bought the white sourdough and can’t stop eating it,” Michael Smith added.
The store, at 131 Currie Street, is open from 6.30am to 1pm daily and Walters is taking orders for freshly-made croissant to pick up on Christmas Day between 6am to 9am.
Walter’s products can be purchased at most IGA supermarkets across the Sunshine Coast, and at quality health food stores.