Marie Philippi, a self-taught baker who co-owns the
Taste of Love Bakery, had been working out of a commercial kitchen in New Hope for nearly a year when she decided to find a permanent home for the business.
The custom bakery plans to open in the next few weeks at 870 Dodd Rd. in West St. Paul, where it straddles several St. Paul neighborhoods.
Often, she passed by the corner building at the intersection of Annapolis, Dodd, and Chariton streets, which had long been a revolving door for various businesses.
Even before she was looking for retail space, Philippi, who lives nearby, wondered what could be done at that corner to turn it around. At one point, the building faced condemnation. “The corner is busy and it had potential,” she says. “I know there’s a lot of people out walking all the time.”
However, getting the space up to par was an ambitious undertaking.
For starters, the building’s façade needed a facelift, while inside, everything had to be gutted — a $25,000 project, she says.
Previously, the building’s exterior had cracked stucco, while rotten wood and overgrown trees also caused problems.
Inside, floors had been in disrepair, walls were filled with graffiti and the windows were painted green, “So nobody could see in,” she says.
New electrical systems and plumbing had to be installed. Furthermore, the bakers are joining two separate spaces in the building. “We’re cramming a lot into a small building,” which is 2,400 square feet, including the basement, she says.
To keep costs down, “We bought a lot of things used,” she says. “We’ve refurbished those things.”
Also, she was able to raise $8,000 for equipment through an
Indiegogo online campaign.
Ultimately, she sees the bakery as a destination for area families, which she says is a huge need in this part of town.
As such, the bakery includes a play area for children, along with child-sized furniture and kid-friendly menu items in addition to the retail area and lounge. “I wanted a kid-friendly space and an area where you could come to relax or work,” she says.
Source: Marie Philippi, co-owner, Taste of Love Bakery
Writer: Anna Pratt