PLENTY THE BAKERY
- By D.E. Bentley
Stepping into the inviting seating area at Plenty the Bakery, a large basket of fiber caught my eye. This simple homespun detail, combined with the soft lace curtains, carefully selected art and cozy seating arrangements, settled my senses and said, sit down…relax…and rejoice in all that we have. The basket of yarn, I discovered, has a purpose as meaningful as the oven that Michelle Halloran uses to create her magical cinnamon buns and other bakery delights. As the new owner, and baker at Plenty The Bakery, which opened to the public on February 8, 2020, Michelle wants to invite community in and offer up riches in simple, meaningful ways. “I knit, some,” she shared. The yarn is for all to use, to enjoy, with the idea that the art of creating brings joy and the things we make can bring joy to others. “Perhaps,” Michelle continued, “it will develop into a community scarf-making project, where people knit scarves here then we donate them to people in need.” There are other plans for fostering that sense of community, and home: things like a community book shelf where books can be handled, read, and shared; a record player, where the simple act of setting a needle in a groove can bring people together as they listen to a memorable older tune or experience something new shared by someone else; and games to play and enjoy, together. In all of these, Michelle sees fluid interrelations between people, objects and ideas, with books, LPs, and artistic creations of all sorts moving from person to person, finding homes where they are loved, appreciated, and shared; replaced by gifts from others. The Plenty space will also host guest artists, starting with some parquet images created by artist and frame maker Lauren Hersch and still life paintings by Kristen Gibson.
“I have enough, plenty,” Michelle offered. Hence the inspiration for Plenty The Bakery. She means this in a couple ways. She has plenty to be content, to share with others. She also has enough past experience to realize that less is sometimes more. Michelle is no stranger to business ownership and food service. She is currently a chef at Hollerhorn Distilling, now down to part-time to make time for her new business venture. Roots Café, which, Michelle emphasized, “has thrived and grown thanks to the love and care of the owner, my friend Mindy,” was first opened by Michelle and her sister. She also worked at Wine Barrel Bistro and Arbor Hill—her daughter currently works at Brew and Brats. “I learned from those experiences, and others, how much time and energy it takes to run a restaurant.”
With Plenty, Michelle wants something more, or less, actually. A more relaxed pace. Initially, she plans to be open to the public Saturdays only. She will also take orders for cakes and other custom baked goods and host birthdays, tea parties, and other cake-friendly gatherings.
I stopped in early on February 15th for Cinnamon Roll Saturday and took home a cinnamon bun and pecan sticky bun. Others were already there, enjoying fresh cinnamon rolls, and coffee from Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters. I was welcomed by Michelle and her sister, and by the delightful scent of cinnamon and coffee. The first March Cinnamon Roll Saturday will be on Saturday, March 7, starting at 7am. As with all good things, cinnamon rolls are in limited supply: there will be Plenty…or not, so get there early if you can.
Plenty The Bakery is located at: 6459 RT 64 Naples NY—the former location of Brown Hound Bistro, a muffin’s throw from Brew and Brats. Find them online at: www.facebook.com/PlentyTheBakery/