New business owner Judi Parker re-opened the doors to Gladstone’s community bakery almost exactly a month ago. Though she and her partner did extensive renovations to the living space above the eatery, other than a few fixes and a coat of paint, the bakery looks largely the way people remember it.

Rrain Prior – Local Journalism Initiative

Located in a historic building in downtown Gladstone, the bakery had been a staple of the community for many years before closing its doors in August of 2023. Parker and her family took over the building last fall and she says as soon as they started renovations they got lots of interest from the community, with people stopping in the street to check it, and them, out.

The bakery, now called Follow The Crumbs, is very much a family affair, with Parker’s daughter taking on much of the non-baking food service and her sons helping with the upkeep and maintenance. “Without all of them, this would never be a success," says Parker, who now lives upstairs from her business, making her very-early-morning commute a breeze.

Though she’s forged her own identity for the past couple of years through marketing her baking at farmers markets and other sales around the Westman area, Parker still has to contend with a long local memory and the previous bakery’s stellar reputation. Two of the most popular items from the old bakery - pizza and donuts - are not on the menu yet as the old equipment used to prepare them has to be repaired or replaced. Parker says locals and visitors alike are definitely looking for the items they remember, and she hopes to be able to provide them soon.

Which is not to say that her own touch isn’t paying off, as her signature apple pie cinnamon buns have been selling out every day, and her daughter’s homemade soups have been very popular with the lunch crowd.

When asked for advice for anyone starting their own business, Parker says to be prepared to put in a lot of time and hard work, citing her own 20-hour days when getting the bakery ready to open. But she also adds that the old adage ‘if you love what you do, you don't work a day in your life’ is true, and to “remember to always have fun.”

Follow the Crumbs is located at the corner of Dennis Street and Morris Street in Gladstone, Manitoba, and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 to 6.

Also on today’s show, Neepawa Fire Chief Yves Guillas talks about fire safety as he takes a group of students from the Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program on a tour of the local fire hall.