The transformation of Five Points Bakery is truly inspirational, and exactly what I would have expected from owners Kevin and Melissa Gardner. From the entranceway at the Five Points intersection to the winding path to the facade of the building, this new development is drop dead beautiful. The entire scope of the project was well thought out and perfectly executed.

The inside of the café is just as impressive. It looks as if it has been there for decades, with giant wood beams, barn doors, rustic metal accents and original brickwork. I paid a visit to this building before work even began on the place, and I am still in awe at the amount of blood, sweat and love that went into it.

By selling cups of coffee, toast and baked goods, along with some help from the community ($5 donation wall), somehow the couple managed to create a destination that is unlike anything else in the city. It’s pretty darn spectacular, while at the same time it’s somehow humble. There are plenty of accents (reminders of the humble beginnings) from the old location that have been incorporated into the new digs, including the wheat painting and the menu chalkboard.

The size of the kitchen is any chef’s dream. The new equipment looks as if it could cook for an army, which is what it might have to do as people discover this coffee paradise. The vibe is part country store and part roadside diner. There’s a lot more seating inside thanks to the bar stools at the counter. There are even inherent details that you might not notice, such as… the whole grain walls? According to the owners, “The plaster on our walls is made from the clay we dug out of the ground to pour the foundation beneath them, wheat paste made from our whole grain flour, chopped straw from the family we get our wheat from, and sand.”

The expansive ceilings create a sense of open space. The different types of lighting fixtures add an eclectic mix to the room. All told, it’s charming, bright, cozy, vibrant and it’s not even completely finished. The second floor isn’t even open yet, which is fine because there’s so much to take in that one barely even notices the staircase.

Melissa and Kevin have admirable passion and the drive for their business. It shows in just about everything inside and outside of the building. In the spring, when there is courtyard seating, and the plantings take root, and the edible garden springs up, Five Points is going to feel and look like something right out of a Charles Burchfield painting. It’s these types of accomplishments that continue to blow my mind. It was not that long ago that no one would have ever dreamed that this was even a possibility. And here we are, witnessing what appears to be a small miracle. My how this neighborhood is changing.

Five Points Bakery | 44 Brayton Street | Buffalo, New York | (716) 884-8888 | Facebook