Galena Bakehouse Is A Bakery In Small-Town Illinois That Greets Everyone With Warm Welcomes... And Warm Empanadas
By Sarah McCosham|Published August 18, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Pardon the pun, but bakeries are a dime a (baker’s) dozen; a mainstay in pretty much every small town and big city across the U.S. Even if you eschew the bakery behemoths for the little, locally-owned bakeshops, you’ll still find lots of options for coffee and a tasty treat wherever you travel or find yourself.
Galena, Illinois, is certainly no exception. This picturesque and historic small town in the Northwestern corner of Illinois is about as charming as it gets. Home to a small-but-mighty population of 3,200, Galena is the kind of place folks go to settle down and raise a family; a sleepy little locale with a bustling business district and oodles of small-town pride. And bakeries. Yes indeed, Galena might be small, but it’s teeming with bakeries — on Main Street alone, there are several. None, however, are quite as delightfully delicious and impossibly charming as Galena Bakehouse.
Galena Bakehouse opened in September 2021 and has quickly become a beloved community cornerstone. It’s no surprise, though, as the bakehouse is owned and operated by two of the most delightful and inspired proprietors, a duo that came to Galena from the hustle and bustle of New York City to give “small town life a try.” And we’re so glad they did.
Interested to learn about other unique American small businesses? Our Small Business Spotlight series highlights the often-overlooked work of small business owners across the country, from Maine to Southern California.
There's something undeniably delightful and intriguing about living in a small town. It's the kind of thing romanticized by Hallmark movies and juicy beach reads. It's the kind of life many of us daydream about -- and it's wholly wonderfully real in Galena, Illinois.
This small town is known for its scenic splendor, historic relevance, and bustling business district. It's a portrait of small-town USA that Midwest natives-turned-Manhattan-transplants Geoff Karnish and Alex Arroyo craved. "We are both originally from the Midwest," they explain. Geoff is from Wisconsin, and Alex is from Ohio; in their 20s, they moved to Manhattan, each spending many years busily building corporate careers in the city.
But after several years -- over a decade, for Alex -- living in the city, enough was enough. Over the fast-paced and frenetic NYC corporate scene, the couple moved to Galena, Illinois, with the idea of becoming innkeepers.
"This career change moved us from Manhattan to the small picturesque town of Galena where we managed the historic Inn at Felt Manor for two years," they explain.
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It was during the pandemic shutdown, however, when folks were feeding sourdough starters and ordering curbside *everything*, that the couple baked up the idea for Galena Bakehouse: a grab-and-go, fast casual bakery with handcrafted fresh food and local coffee.
"After two years of innkeeping and analyzing the town, we thought this was exactly what Galena needed," they explain.
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The pair rolled up their sleeves and got to work, renovating an antique store in a historic 1850s storefront on Galena's picture-perfect Main Street. The history of the building was an added bonus for the duo: it's been a granary, a meat butcher, an automotive garage, a dog groomer, and an antique store in its 175-year life!
Building secured, it was time to get baking. As the couple explains, Geoff learned a love for baking at a young age. In New York, Geoff was working for a luxury restaurant group as their event manager and was previously a baker for a farm-to-table restaurant on the Upper West Side.
Alex, meanwhile, worked for a luxury real estate developer and manager. After a few years on the real estate side, he created an events and partnership program for each of the buildings in the portfolio. He was previously an Arts Programmer... not a baker. But he had a great partner.
In fact, being able to work side by side was a big perk for Alex and Geoff, whose previous careers in NYC had them working long hours on opposite sides of the city.
"We felt like we rarely got to see each other. Now, we're surrounded by this gorgeous historic town and get to work together on every project. It's a dream that we never thought was possible!" they say.
This strong foundation and the joy and enthusiasm they have for each other and their town infuses every aspect of the shop. More than merely a bakery, Galena Bakehouse is a place that welcomes everyone with the kind of food that feeds both heart and soul.
The bakehouse has brought Latino flair to Galena, Illinois, too. "Alex's family is from Puerto Rico, so we developed a variety of baked empanadas including traditional flavors such as beef picadillo, as well as local breakfast favorites like our egg, sausage, and cheddar empanada," the couple explains.
Of course, the bakehouse's pastries, sweets, and macarons also win over the "coffee and donut" crowd, and it's these customers and their rave reviews that have cemented the bakery's place in town.
"Pride is ingrained in the culture of Galena Bakehouse," they explain. The couple created Galena's first-ever pride event, in fact: the Galena Pride Picnic.
"Our pride logo is incorporated into the merchandise all year round because it's pride every day at our house," they say. The couple adds that the pride festival is now sponsored by the Galena Public Library each year, which expanded the inclusivity of its education programs as well.
"It has been such a dream to bring this showcase of love to this small town and to have them welcome all of it," say Alex and Geoff.
If this isn't peak small-town living, I'm not sure what is.
Many thanks to Alex and Geoff for sharing the story of their delightful Illinois bakery. Learn more about Galena Bakehouse at its website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
Of course, Galena Bakehouse is just one of the many amazing small businesses in Illinois; please nominate your favorite attractions and businesses for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Only In Illinois article. And be sure to follow Only In Illinois on Facebook and Instagram to learn about this region of the Land of Lincoln’s most incredible places, attractions, and events.
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