Tucked into an alley on Washington Street is a new spot for sweet treats. Where GO! Ice cream used to be, Beara Bakes now calls 10 N. Washington St. home.
Beara Bakes started as a pop-up and pre-order bake sale in 2020, inspired by owner Cat Spencer’s history with cooking and love for the community. Spencer said that they feel restaurants are important to communities, especially small towns, and, “[Opening this restaurant] was the best way I knew how to show love and support for this community.”
From the launch in 2020, Beara Bakes slowly grew until they had their soft open on Aug. 18.
According to the Beara Bakes website, “We strive to use local good ingredients.”
Spencer elaborated on this and said that their business is big on sustainability, so they try to use almost all local and organic ingredients, especially their produce.
This means that their menu is ever-changing with what is in season, or even day-to-day. You can find an updated menu on their Instagram almost every day. However, the cheddar chive biscuit is a savory everyday staple. As well as the sweet brown butter buckwheat chocolate chip cookie.
The base recipes stay much the same, just with changing flavors as produce becomes available and unavailable. This was evident over the summer as strawberries were only available for about two weeks. So, every item became strawberry flavored to make the most of the micro-season.
In addition to hand-made treats, Beara Bakes offers Intelligentsia House Blend drip coffee. If coffee isn’t your taste, they also offer Topo Chico and a bottle of water with cups to split with your group.
Their prices range depending on what you are getting, but are usually between $3-$13 for a treat or coffee. There is also no tax on their in-store goodies.
The food can be taken to go, or enjoyed inside the cozy bakery. They are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Their products are also available at Roos Roast, Lab Ann Arbor, LowerTown Bar and Cafe, Argus Cafe on Packard and their Sunday Brunch Pop-Ups.
For more information about what items are available and where to find them, you can visit their website, bearabakes.com, or their Instagram, bearabakes.
