West Roxbury Bakery: A Sweet New Spot in Fairview Corner

Want a fresh baked pie for the holidays? Need a new place to grab morning coffee while in a rush?  Or fresh sandwiches for lunch? BakerBaker has it all.

The year-old bakery on Fairview Corner has been a real treat for West Roxbury locals.

Owners  Beth McNichols and Frances Kolenik opened the store located at 168 Spring St. (at the intersection of Baker and Spring streets) last December, and the two friends are already seeing success. 

Patch sat down with McNichols and Kolenik to learn a little bit more about the new gals on the block.

Patch:  When did you open?

Kolenik:  We opened on Dec. 19 of last year.

Patch:  Why did you decide to open a bakery?

Kolenik: Well Beth and I used to be neighbors on Maple Street and we used to do a lot of baking together for our oldest kids, when they were young.  We used to say, “Let’s someday open a bakery!” And we baked a lot of our mothers’ recipes.

Patch: What did you do before opening BakerBaker?

Kolenik: Well Beth still owns Spring Street Café and she used to own Cibo in the North End and I used to work for her.  About a year before we opened here, we decided to open a pastry case down at the Spring Street Café and see what happens, and people went crazy over it.

Patch: How do you manage your time owning two businesses?

McNichols:  I do days here and nights there.

Patch:  Where are you from?

Kolenick:  We used to live in West Roxbury but I now live in Reading.

McNichols:  I'm from Worcester but I live in Roslindale.  

Patch: I see that you are located on the corner of Baker Street.  Is that where you got the name BakerBaker? 

Kolenick:  No, were originally called “Just Baked,” but then a woman from Michigan threatened to sue us, claiming she was going to go National with her cupcake business under the same name.  We then decided, well there’s two of us, so lets call it “BakerBaker,” completely forgetting we were right on Baker Street.

Patch: What do you like best of Fairview Corner

Kolenick:  The fact that they were going to tear this business down.  It has so much history right here.  The fact that we could bring this corner back to life is really cool.  There’s also a lot of people that live behind us and like a place where they can walk to.  Also the fact that it’s all women owned businesses.

Patch: What advice would you give to other women starting their own business?

Kolenick: Have a lot of money (laughs).

McNichols:  Talk to people first.

Patch: What struggles have you gone through in your first year?

Kolenick:  The biggest struggle has been finding good help. Also the balance of running the business.  I can’t just take a weekend off. Weekends are gone.  I still have kids in sports and I miss all that.  There’s a give somewhere.  It’s so much time and energy but at the end of the day I can say I am running my own business and not answering to anyone else.

Patch: What separates yourself from other bakeries.

Kolenick:  The fact that everything is done right here by Beth and I.  Everything is made with natural ingredients.  There’s a lot of bakeries that have products that look beautiful, but they don’t taste great.

Patch:  What are your most popular items.

McNichols: Cupcakes, pies and brambles.

Kolenick: Lemon squares and Rocket Bars.

Patch: What is a Rocket Bar?

Kolenick: It’s a recipe from Beth’s mother that was actually a date bar. We updated it with flaxseed, oatmeal, raspberry, walnuts and whole wheat flower.  I sell them to a gym up in Tewksbury and they eat them like crazy.  They are healthier and they taste delicious. 

Patch:  Where did you get your passion for baking?

Kolenick:  My mother. She always made pies and she once won a contest for pie making.  I never went to baking school. I learned on my mother’s elbow.  Nothing teaches like experience.

McNichols:  My mother, she was a great baker.

Patch:  What is your favorite thing about working in West Roxbury.

Kolenick: Well all my cousins live here. My best friend lives here.  The people who come in are just so loyal. 

Patch: What is one thing the city of Boston could do better for small businesses?

McNichols:  Have one efficient way of applying for permits.  

BakerBaker can be contacted by calling, 617-325-BAKE.