Marie Antoinette’s Gluten-Free Bake Shoppe is making plans to expand and relocate their bakery in “the cupola building” on the east side of the Gallatin business square.
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This business will eventually employ 7-10 people working a retail business in the cupola building and a production bakery in the former grocery store.
The firm is now aligning its financing to open its business here. During the next six months, the relocation will require significant effort to acquire equipment and line up suppliers. No precise opening date has been announced.
The business intends to retain the historic integrity of the landmark building’s exterior while remodeling the interior to suit its retail and production bakery needs.
The Bake Shoppe presently operates out of a small facility in Wathena, Kan. While looking to expand, Bake Shoppe owners approached the City of Gallatin and discussion almost immediately focused on the vacant commercial buildings the city acquired in 2016.
According to its website (mariesglutenfree.com), Marie Antoinette’s offers 47 gluten-free products: cakes, pies, cinnamon rolls, bread buns, Paleo loaf, pancake mix, pizza crust — even “Southern” biscuits and gravy.
Local officials were told that the State of Kansas issued a commendation award for the company’s economic input into that state’s economy. The firm distributes their products at stores in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, partnering with Hy-Vee, Price Chopper, HenHouse, Pizza Shoppe, VaVas Euro Bistro and The Merc Co-op.
Discussions about the possibility of Marie Antoinette’s relocation and expansion at Gallatin began about six weeks ago. The relocation and expansion most likely will involve economic development funds from a MoKAN organization, private bank investment, and a sizable input of capital from the business owners.
No financial incentives were promised by the City of Gallatin to attract the new business here. It has yet to be determined whether the bakery will primarily be an electricity or natural gas customer.
The new business will benefit from an initial local investment to stabilize the buildings now in obvious disrepair. As previously reported, up to $50,000 to repair the cupola and roof were pledged by the Gallatin Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC).
Local officials viewed roof repairs as necessary in hopes of returning the property to any use; all involved prefer the buildings to house a commercial business. But, if no business took possession, efforts to convert the property into a community center were also underway.
These efforts included the legal organization of a not-for-profit “Friends of Gallatin” to enable financing advantages for community projects such as a community center.
To perpetuate efforts, elected city officials (mayor and aldermen) serve as board members of this newly created entity. Seating publicly elected officials as volunteer board members on a not-for-profit organization contrasts with entities that exist but are largely inactive, such as the Gallatin Industrial Development Corporation which organized in the 1960s.
Funding for roof replacement and cupola repair were committed prior to the discovery of Marie Antoinette’s business interest. In the unlikely event that the bakery’s plans fail to materialize, efforts to renovate the property and convert the building into a community center most likely would be revived.
The City of Gallatin recently approved a proposal from Milbourn LLC of Gallatin to remove and repair 4500 square feet of roof and to restore the decorative cupola. This week a check for $34,961.93 from the GIDC was delivered to the City to cover these improvements on the commercial building. Thereafter, property improvements will be financed and completed by the new bakery business.
Repairs on the property are hoped to be completed this fall.