Wild Yeast Bakehouse
- Aug 17
- 3 min read
What started with a few loaves of sourdough baked in a home kitchen has grown into something much bigger, a thriving community of bread lovers and, now, a brand-new bakery in Wayne.
In April 2021, John Goncher began baking sourdough loaves from his kitchen and delivering them to a small handful of customers. Five years and tens of thousands of loaves later, Wild Yeast Bakehouse has officially opened the doors to its new home at Eagle Village Shops.
It’s a story about bread, certainly, but even more so, it’s a story about community, curiosity, and the courage to see where a small idea can lead.
From a Kitchen Table to a Bakery
When those first sourdough loaves were coming out of the oven in 2021, there was no grand plan for a retail bakery. Wild Yeast Bakehouse simply grew organically, one loaf and one customer at a time.
Customers found the bakery through online orders, farmers markets, weekly deliveries, and word of mouth. What began as a small home-based operation quickly became a community of people who shared an appreciation for naturally leavened bread.
And the response was overwhelming.
“Firstly, thank you!” Goncher says, reflecting on the journey. “I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for how this growing community of bread lovers has so actively embraced Wild Yeast Bakehouse.”
Every order, every farmers market interaction, and every customer willing to try that first loaf helped build the confidence to take the next step.
Why a Bakery, and Why Now?
For years, the question was whether a retail bakery was actually part of the plan.
The answer? Not really.
As Wild Yeast Bakehouse grew, the business eventually reached a crossroads: expand into a larger commercial production facility or scale back to fit within the limitations of a home kitchen.
But the experience of interacting with customers revealed something important. This wasn’t just about finding more space to bake.
There was a desire to create a physical place where the community could connect with Wild Yeast Bakehouse.
That’s where the Eagle Village Shops location came in.
Located just a few miles from Goncher’s home, the new space offered the opportunity to create something more than a production facility. It could become a gathering place. A place where customers could walk in, smell fresh bread coming from the oven, grab a coffee, learn about sourdough, and simply say hello.
More Than a Bigger Bakery
The new 1,500-square-foot bakery provides something Wild Yeast Bakehouse desperately needed: room to grow.
But increased capacity is only part of the story.
The bakery allows the team to offer a wider selection of products while making them more accessible to the community. Visitors can expect freshly baked sourdough loaves, cookies, focaccia, and other sourdough treats, alongside coffee and cold drinks.
The space also includes an open kitchen and areas designed for small-group workshops and guest speakers.
That openness is intentional.
Wild Yeast Bakehouse’s mission is to “nourish the community,” and that means more than feeding people. It means creating opportunities to learn about naturally leavened bread, understand where ingredients come from, support the local economy, and participate in the community.
The bakery provides a home for all of that.
What to Expect When You Visit
The bakery officially opened its doors on Saturday, July 18 at 9 a.m.
Visitors can expect:
Freshly baked sourdough loaves
Cookies, focaccia, and other sourdough treats
Coffee and cold drinks
An open kitchen
A comfortable space to sit and enjoy a treat
Small-group workshops and guest speakers
A broader selection of products throughout the week
Retail hours are Wednesday through Sunday, while Wild Yeast Bakehouse continues to serve its subscribers and wholesale customers throughout the week.
Whether you’re a longtime customer who has been ordering since the kitchen-table days or you’re discovering Wild Yeast for the first time, the goal is simple: walk in, feel welcome, and leave with something delicious.
A True Homecoming
There is something especially meaningful about watching a business return to the community that helped it grow.
The journey from a living room kitchen to a 1,500-square-foot retail bakery has been thrilling, scary, exciting and, above all, deeply rewarding.
The team has grown. The customer base has grown. And now, Wild Yeast Bakehouse has a physical home where all of those pieces can come together.
What started with a few loaves of bread has become a community.
And perhaps that’s the most beautiful part of the story: Wild Yeast Bakehouse didn’t simply grow into a bakery. It grew because people showed up for it.
Now, there’s a place for everyone to show up together.
Stop by Eagle Village Shops in Wayne, grab a loaf, stay for a coffee, and say hello. Your next favorite sourdough might be waiting for you.
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