Stuart Howe, owner of Saint John Bakery. Image: Cherise Letson/Huddle Today
After less than six months in business on the city’s east side, Saint John Bakery is expanding the reach of its products — to Quispamsis.
The bakery is supplying H & S Meats with its products in its new store opening at 221 Hampton Road this spring.
The relationship came about when Saint John Bakery owner Stuart Howe got a call from H&S Meats co-owner Scott Scichilone to see if he was interested in supplying the store with baked goods.
“We don’t have a presence in the Valley. And quite frankly, a storefront out there is not on the short-term horizon,” said Howe. “So I went out and saw his space. We are going to get a little section of our own and he wants to put up a sign and we’re going to supply something we think will fit with his vision for what he’s building out there.”
In a previous interview with Huddle, Scichilone said the new store will offer the same open concept, old-style butcher shop experience as H & S Meat’s market location. But it will also carry cheeses, seafood, dulse, produce, and hand-made baked goods.
“This is going to be like the Saint John market but a little bit more compact. It’s going to be unique in the sense that a lot of it is going to be customer-service [focused],” said Scichilone, back in February.
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“You’re going to see me butchering and we’ll be cutting the cheeses and slicing the deli meets there in front of you. It’s all an interactive experience. It’s not someplace you’re going to come and get a bunch of generic stuff and you’re rushed through the door. If you want a two-inch steak, I’ll cut you a two-inch steak. If you want a half-inch steak, I’ll cut you a half-inch steak.”
Howe said it will be a perfect place to sell his products.
“I lived in Europe for a long time … and the type of store he’s building is that type of place. I could just walk into one just like it in Toronto,” said Howe. “Obviously, he won’t be using Toronto prices, but from what he’s trying to do with the place, I just think it’s a perfect [place for our products].”
H & S meats will carry Saint John Bakery’s staple products like French baguettes, sourdough, hamburger/hotdog buns, cinnamon buns, dinner rolls and multigrain bread. All the products will be made from scratch at Saint John Bakery’s location in east Saint John then delivered to the store.
“It’s a new market for both of us, so depending on demand out there, we’ll be very flexible in changing up what we offer,” said Howe.
Since opening for business less than six months ago, Howe says Saint John Bakery has reached its capacity. In addition to supplying his products at H & S Meats, he is also looking at opening a second bakery in west Saint John.
“We’re bursting at the seams here. I’m looking for a spot in West Saint John to have a second space because we’ve grown so quickly,” said Howe. “That said, you have to be super careful about growing too quickly and keeping your quality where it is now. That’s top-of-mind for me, so we’re going slowly with all of these things.”
Howe credits all of the business’s success to its loyal customers.
“We’ve been totally dependent on our customers for our survival. We don’t have any opportunity for any type Covid assistance of any kind,” he said. Our customers have been outstanding. I’m in awe sometimes of our customers.”
Cherise Letson is the associate editor of Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
