The ethereal aroma of melted butter undulates through the air and stop-in-your tracks brilliant visuals caress the senses with strokes of baking genius as you cross into the new showroom for The Master’s Baker. This institution of higher baking has been a Southeastern Pennsylvania mainstay since 1970. Now, the family business has taken flight and landed in downtown West Chester.
The new baking and show space includes two galleries, a top-shelf kitchen and a planning area for browsing lookbooks. Owner Chad Weldon said of the new space, “We outgrew our ‘in-the-home business’ about two years ago and have been looking for a larger space ever since then. We found 319 West Gay Street and finally settled. Our previous spot gave us roughly 1,700 square feet, and our new space in downtown West Chester gives us 6,000 square feet.”
Moving from a smaller space in West Chester’s outskirts to the city location provides more opportunities for clients to drop in for cake design talks as well as ease for the newly expanded operation to service surrounding country clubs, conference centers and large events.
“Even though we are not a retail bakery where customers can just stop in to pick up a cake or desserts, this new space allows us to be more retail friendly for customers who have ordered their cakes and desserts 1–3 weeks in advance of their party, “ said Weldon. “We do not have desserts and cakes just sitting out because we focus in on custom events and we order all our supplies one week in advance for all our custom orders.”
Master’s Baker is in touch with the ever-changing needs of customers and dietary restrictions. Gluten-free options as well as allergy-sensitive selections abound. Further, the arsenal of designs and flavors is nearly limitless and made easier with the new kitchen space. “The new space also takes us from having our customers look at books to select their cakes to now having all our galleries online and ordering right from 40″ and 60″ televisions,” said Weldon.
Be sure to create a special occasion so you have a reason to make a trip to The Master’s Baker. This bakery doesn’t do retail, so all the attention is on custom events and the specialty needs of clubs and venues. “We are focused on our wholesale accounts such as country clubs, caterers, hotels, restaurants and corporations. We are partnered with over 60 in the area and look to only grow in the area as we now have more room to expand.”
So what’s next for the crew? “We will start hosting classes, special events and tastings. This will be one sweet area in West Chester. We already had a couple of wedding planners come in and say we should rent out our industrial-chic space for baby and bridal showers, anniversaries and small corporate parties as well because of its space and look. We are excited to be here.”
Find The Master’s Baker at 319 W. Gay St. in West Chester; phone: (610) 436-9888.
- Photos: Jim Berman
