Before I left town, I had one quick stop to make…
Great Harvest Bread Co! I cannot believe this store is MINE!!! So weird!!!!!!!! I do not feel old enough.
When I popped in, I ran into our very first KERF tourist – Emmy and her husband were in Cville for a vacation and came to see our bakery!!! Her daughter, Anna, turned her on to KERF last year and she enjoys whipped banana oatmeal now on a regular basis 🙂 It was so fun to meet her, so I hope you will all come to visit!
And while you’re visiting, if you’d like to buy something, we now have cash registers!
My only glimpse of Matt today – he was troubleshooting a malfunctioning mill that is now FIXED!
1.5 hours of Water For Elephants audiobook later…I found the Teodoros! Pablo, Lynda and the girls were hard at work.
In addition to the 10 loaves we needed for tomorrow’s race, I came home with a few treats for our family. Despite being an owner, I am still a loyal GH customer who likes to spend my bread money (I really did just type that!) on made-from-scratch real food!!
I got a Raspberry Apple High Five! loaf, a Blackberry Peach Cobbler bread (which went in the freezer) and a Cinnamon scone!!
And I left with a slice of the Rasp.-Apple High Five for a snack. Hello Pablo!!
My passenger for the trip was a bag of Lynda’s granola. The BEST GRANOLA EVER!!! It was very well-behaved and provided me with lots of road trip nourishment.
And when I got stopped by the train, no problem. Lynda was there with me!
The bag was already partially opened (I actually snagged the LAST bag in the store – they were making more!) but I still made a nice dent in the cluster eating 🙂
Back at home a while later, Matt made dinner while I caught up with my computer work.
We had salmon salad – a bit of a tested recipe for the bakery’s sandwich program made with curry powder. Our sandwich version won’t have chopped veggies (they will be separate so you can ask for something to be left off) but we added them to ours
I told Matt that I wasn’t hungry because I’d eaten so much granola, and he hilariously prepared me this carbless plate with a small portion. It was cool though since I really wasn’t hungry!
I got a small pile of chips 🙂
He got the bag!
ALSO – this beer appeared out of no where!! I swear, I have no idea where it came from. But boy was it good!
Man, I am NOT good under pressure. We are really cutting it close with our oven having a problem and some of our inspections. It makes me SO nervous to be depending on someone else at the last minute!!! I am the world’s greatest anti-procrastinator. I sure hope Matt forgives me for having a panicked edge in my voice all through our nice dinner. I just have to get through next week and this huge deadline with GH corporate will be over and all construction over and we can start to run the store with our own labor!
That said, it’s already past my bedtime – we have to be up in the 5:00 hour for the big race tomorrow. We’re slicing at the Montalto Challenge – an ALL UPHILL 5K at Monticello!!!
See you at noon!
Baking 'n' Books says
I hope you get to sleep in Sunday! Don’t stress – easier said than done I know 😉 – it’ll all work out in the end – if it doesn’t…it’s not the end 🙂
Christie says
mmm that salmon salad looks tasty! I can’t imagine the pressure you’re under at the moment – just remember that everything always works out in the long run 🙂
Enjoy slicing tomorrow!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I hope you find a way to relax and not be stressed! Soon it will be opening day and all of your worries will fade away as dozens of adoring patrons dance through your open bakery door. 🙂
I probably would have left GH with 10 loaves just for me, LOL.
Brandee says
The store looks great!!
kaila @ healthy helper! says
Oh wow raspberry apple bread sounds so good! Is there added sugar in it? Just curious because GH seems very aware of using natural ingredients like you’ve said in the past so I am just wondering what their “sugar” standards are.
I can’t believe the sign is really up….it makes it all seem so much more real! YOU OWN A BAKERY! How awesome is that!?!?!?
KathEats says
It depends on the bakery, but almost all use 100% honey
KathEats says
Oh, or regular cane sugar for sweets
MaryBe@Accidentally-Vegan says
The nearest Great Harvest to me is 29 miles away – but I am going there asap! I will tell them it’s your contagious excitement that made me do it. Oh, and the photos of the bread and goodies 😀
I can’t believe how young you two are to be doing all this. I would be FREAKING.OUT
Stacy @ Every Little Thing says
Wow, so awesome the sign is up! Nice work 🙂 Opening day will be here soon enough and the major stress will be behind you!
Kate says
Hope you get some rest this weekend! That 5k sounds awesome – it would be so fun to run near Jefferson’s estate. Have a good time!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Lynda was there when you got stopped by the train…bahaha
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
“It makes me SO nervous to be depending on someone else at the last minute!!! I am the world’s greatest anti-procrastinator. “–
you and me both!! my hubs is the worst and his tendencies drive me nuts. When things are left to me, on important matters, they are always done wayyyy ahead of schedule. I hate down to the wire stuff!
You’re doing great, Kath!
Good luck on your race. All your nervous energy from the store will probably just propel you right up those hills like speedy wildfire 🙂
Morgan @ moments of mmm says
I nabbed a sample of raisin-walnut cinnamon bread at my GH today, and it was one of the best sweet breads I think I have EVER had..and it was whole wheat! Amazzzing.
Cait @ Beyond Bananas says
Ahhh.. it is so real now! There is signage! 🙂
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I applaud how you keep your cool! I would have freaked out by now. I hate things going to the last possible minute! Sleep well and have fun slicing bread at the race!
Laura Jane @ Recovering Chocoholic says
Wow, the sign on the bakery makes it look so real!! We don’t have a Great Harvest anywhere near us. 🙁 I’ve actually never been to one. Maybe I’ll need to make a road trip Charlottesville! I’ve only been to the airport there a couple times, but it’s actually my favorite airport, and I’ve traveled through a lot of airports. They have tons of windows and rocking chairs that you can sit in, plus they had some of the best airport restaurants.
KathEats says
I think you are confusing Charlottesville with Charlotte.
Our airport is very nice with rocking chairs, but we have zero restaurants!
Rebecca says
Blackberry Peach Cobbler bread?! And that granola! You have a good life. 😉 I can’t wait to see all the goodies that come out of the Charlottesville Great Harvest!
As a freshman Dietetics student, I’m so inspired by you Kath! I love the way you’ve incorporated your schooling and knowledge into real life and had a unique vision for what you want to do as an RD. And now you are nearly there!
Have fun at the 5K tomorrow. How I wish every race served your bread 🙂
staceyhealthylife says
I wish we had raspberry apple high five bread at a GH around here. That sounds so unique and tasty.
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
What a busy day you had! Love the GH sign 🙂
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Wondering when y’all would come slicing in Orlando for a change 😉 Those breads looks super yummy.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
That granola looks amazing – I love all granolas, but especially ones that aren’t too sweet with lots of clusters!
Kat @ Cupcake Kat says
Oh my gosh your bakery looks so beautiful!
Angel7 says
The store looks awesome thus far 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
I have devoured many a bag of granola in the car 🙂 The bakery looks great!
Miranda @ Working Mom Works Out says
You have a SIGN!!! It looks amazing! You guys have certainly put in the work, too. Congrats.
hemp jogger says
it looks so great! i really cannot wait to stop in and buy a loaf when yall are open. enjoy this crazy process guys…itll be worth it 🙂
Kathy W. says
SO AMAZING to see the front of the store. Can’t believe it was once a t-shirt print shop! It looks gorgeous–love the yellow sign! (Our nearby Great Harvest has a brownish sign that you don’t notice from the street.)
Holly @ The Runny Egg says
That cobbler bread sounds amazing. I would have eaten that in the car instead of the granola!!!
The Healthy Engineer says
Every time you post about Great Harvest, I just want to eat a whole loaf of bread.
Whoops…already did that.
Stephanie C says
I’m curious.. I notice when you post about the GH breads you always seem to have some really yummy looking ones. My problem is that the GH nearest me, NEVER had any cool breads – granted I love the plain ones, but they only ever have cinnamon chip and a raisin cinnamon bread – that is the craziest it gets. I am DYING to have the ones you mention here – do some stores just choose what they want to supply? They also keep saying they’ll be adding HOT sandwiches, but they’ve done cold ones since they’ve opened – 6 months ago? I am really hoping they get with it, because I am super jealous of the breads you are posting!!
KathEats says
Oh they’ve only been open for 6 months – that’s why!! It takes a long time to get going with a bakery. We won’t be making anything fancy at our opening.
And hot sandwiches require about $5000 worth of equipment, so your owners are probably just not financially ready. Think about how hard it is to run a business – adding things makes it even harder!
Stephanie C says
Makes sense.. I’ll cut them some slack 😉
Namaste Gurl says
Wowza, looks like a busy and crazy day indeed! Hang in there you both 🙂 So sweet of Matt to make you dinner!
Liv @ The Salty n' Sweet says
Hey, no shame on spending your dough on dough LOL ok I’ll stop.
I can’t wait to visit the store the first chance I get! It must be so surreal to see the sign up on YOUR store!!
Elena @ GagaForGrapefruit says
you’re like a celebrity girl! 🙂 how fun!
Brittany @ Eating Bird Food says
i’m doing a 5k tomorrow, too bad it’s not the same one. 🙂
lynn @ the actor's diet says
if i ever make it to your neck of the woods, your GH will be on my itinerary!
Abby White@Eat, Drink and Be Aware says
Good luck tomorrow Kath! It will all work out and this is all very exciting to watch. Congrats!
Gina says
The store looks awesome! So excited for you guys! Congratulations!
lauren @ sassy molassy says
It’s all coming together. Looks legit with that GH font and all. How exciting! Our local store just started offering sandwiches, which I think is awesome. I hope people take advantage of it.
Khushboo says
Wow the sign looks too cool! So much progress in one day! I’m going to see Water for Elephants tonight, can’t wait! Also last night I remembered you as I went to a creperie and they were made from organic buckwheat flour- reminded me of your buckwheat bakes!
JT says
OMG Kath! I havent read your blog for awhile now…and I am so excited to read that you are opening a new GH bakery!!! Congrats! Which post did you announce the news? I wanna go back and read it all… 🙂
KathEats says
A loooong time ago – you’ve been gone for a while! But welcome back! Check out a post called “The Road To Great Harvest”
Elisabeth says
The storefront looks really great with the sign up! I’m very excited for both of you – congratulations on owning a bakery!
Leanne says
Raspberry Apple High Five! Oh My!! Must find out when they are making the next batch of that one!!! Just discovered Asiago Pesto Bread this week.. yummm yummmm!
Michelle (The Runner's Plate) says
I do not like to procrastinate either, so when something is out of my control, I get very anxious!
Emma (Namaste Everyday) says
my mom and I are already planning a trip this summer once I’m back in the States! I can’t wait and I will certainly buy something 😉
sb says
I am the total opposite… a total procrastinator who never does anything ahead of time… but excels under pressure! I’d much rather be a non-procrastinator… but I think it just ain’t in my genes! 😉
Two questions for you about the bakery:
1) All of the wheat comes all the way from Montana for stores all of the country? You’re obviously very aware of how much more green local sourced food is… so I’m wondering how you feel about all of your wheat being shipped thousands of miles every day? Since they seem like such a great and progressive company in so many ways, do you think GH would consider changing this policy in the future?
2) I was just having a discussion about sandwich shops that close at 6 (or even 7) … and I notice that yours will be closing at 6pm. Can you explain the logic of staying open for only a small part of the traditional “dinner” hours? If you’re not planning on providing “dinner” service, why not just close at 3 or 4pm? I must admit that I’m a late dinner eater, and shops that close before 8pm almost never get my dinner business. I’m really not trying to be a jerk… and I’m sure there must be a reason… but as a non-owner, I can’t make sense of it.
KathEats says
On the wheat front, our wheat is bought from small family farms in Montana and is carefully selected by the in-house wheat specialist (a full time position) to be perfection in taste and quality. It’s a long way to travel, but I don’t think the state of Virginia could make enough wheat for all the GH’s that are here (the same with our honey!)
We stop serving sandwiches at 3PM and we stay opened until 6PM so that people can pick up bread + sweets on their way home from work. It would be nice to close at 3, but we want to be able to sell bread throughout the whole workday. Sandwiches were never intended to be sold during dinnertime.
sb says
Well, that makes a bit more sense about the hours, now. Thanks for the reply!
Jumanah says
Its so exciting to see your sign up!
I WISH I was an anti-procrastinator! I always wait until the last minute to do everything!
Hannah says
It’s so exciting to see the store coming together! It’s almost there! EEEP!!
cathy says
congrats to both you and matt on all you have already accomplished, kath!
“I am the world’s greatest anti-procrastinator.” – – >i totally comprehend. NOT going to tell you to relax, chill out…instead, just focus on getting thru the week ahead (as you mentioned). my fingers are crossed for you!
Simply Life says
Oh it’s looks GREAT! I love the sign out front!!!
Sarah@The Flying ONION says
The store looks absolutely awesome! I think it’s good enough reason for me to travel south. 😉 I wish we had Great Harvest around where I live, as their bread sounds fabulous.
Love the smaller portions that Matt prepared you. 😀
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Ahh you have a sign and cash registers now! It’s all looking so real now! I hope you don’t let the stress get to you too much though. I’m sure it’ll all come together in the end! 🙂
Crystal says
The sign looks great! I’m so happy for you guys 🙂 I wish I lived near-by so I could convince you to hire me!!
Erin says
We are traveling back to Richmond from Okinawa in July for a three week visit. I’m hoping I can convince my husband to take a road trip to your store. I’ve been reading for roughly three years and would love to be able to stop in and say hi! I bet I’d be the visitor who came the farthest! Happy Weekend!
KathEats says
Oh please do!!
Laura @FoodSnobSTL says
All of those breads look soo good. I really need to try some Great Harvest!
Kevie says
Please share, what’s in that salmon salad? It looks yummy and even better served over spinach!
KathEats says
It’s very similar to this: https://www.katheats.com/recipage?recipe_id=6000198&prev_term=tuna%20salad
Karen says
I am LOVING the perky signage…it’s a perfect representation of “you.”
Just breathe through those moments of panic during this next week, keeping your eye on the prize…you are almost free!
Have fun ambassador-ing!
Angela (Oh She Glows) says
Getting stopped by a train is a daily thing for me! hehe. On runs too…I wish I had lynda with me too!
Kristen Waby says
The store looks absolutely fun and cheery! I can’t believe how far it’s come in just the past few weeks. You must be over the moon!
Ally (Girl V Food) says
I’m so excited for your store to open!!! I live very close to a CT location and I always get the Dakota bread, it’s delicious!!!! However they don’t offer theirs in the sliced way, it’s always in the gigantic boule. More fun to rip a hunk off the end, though! 🙂
Allison @ Happy Tales says
Aw Kath, from what I can tell, you are doing GREAT under all of this precious! Seriously, we all handle stress in different ways, and it’s okay to feel a little on edge sometimes. Time cures all, and soon enough, this will all be behind you! PS… congrat’s on the progress of the bakery… it is lookiing FANTASTIC! I will most definitely be visiting some day 🙂 OH, and I am totally LOVING the font of the letters on your signage…
Anya Sanko says
Just curious as to how you guys financed your store. Seems like this type of endeavor would cost A LOT of money….Does GH provide small business loans, did you get a private loan or are you just independently wealthy? 😉
KathEats says
We have loans – scary stuff.
Anya Sanko says
SERIOUSLY scary! I have considered undertaking something like this many times, but the financial aspect of it seems daunting. Best of luck for tons of success!
Kierstan @ Life {and running} in Iowa says
Can you open up a GH in small town Iowa?! This post makes me crave the bread!
Carrie says
I was a KERF tourist today at the Great Harvest in Billings MT. I drove by and said “We have to go back! That’s that company I keep reading about!” By the time I got there the Whole Wheat breads were all gone, but I did get some cinnamon swirl and a jar of Naturally Nutty butter toffee peanut butter. Both delish!