A local baker who gained a loyal following selling his king cakes and baguettes from a walk-up window in Old Metairie is opening his own bakery and cafe, reports Mid City Messenger. U.S. Army veteran Kelly Mayhew is bringing Mayhew Bakery to 3201 Orleans Avenue in the Bayou St John neighborhood early next month.

Mayhew jumped on the location in the former Bibleway building when The Station coffee shop’s plans to open there fell through, according to the website. The building is co-owned by Jared Zeller, the founder of the neighborhood’s popular music festival Bayou Boogaloo. Zeller is introducing a shared workspace in the building to coincide with the bakery’s debut.

Mayhew got his start in New Orleans as a sous chef at Brennan’s when it famously reopened in 2014, eventually becoming corporate baker for the restaurant. Then came the farmers market hustle, where his breads were a hit, followed by the pop-up bakery in Old Metairie. Hotspots like Marjie’s Grill and Piece of Meat became wholesale customers, and when he was able to add a retail operation, his king cake, galette des rois (French-style puff pastry king cake) and frangipane tarts sold out in hours.

On Mayhew’s opening menu are cranberry-orange scones, apple-cinnamon muffins, pumpkin bread, and a selection of tarts, breads, and cookies. Client and neighbor Piece of Meat is supplying ingredients like salami and capicola for lunch items including salads, toasts and sandwiches. Among Mayhew’s signature offerings are “swirls,” baguettes smeared with various savory fillings and rolled, sliced, and baked.

An open house for the bakery and workspace is Thursday, September 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Starting October 2, Mayhew Bakery’s hours will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday.

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