According to a pending zoning clearance permit filed with the City of Oakland, the creator of Starter Bakery has sights set on 5804 College Ave. Owner Brian Wood did not deny these plans when contacted, but otherwise was unavailable to discuss further details at the time.
Starter Bakery opened a retail shop in Berkeley in 2019 and has also been selling their baked goods and pastries wholesale and at farmers markets throughout the East Bay. A 2018 profile in Berkeleyside suggested that Wood had plans to open retail shops in the future, leading us to believe that the developments on College Avenue are those plans coming to fruition.
A seasoned baker and pastry chef, Wood taught at the San Francisco Baking Institute and studied in France at Atelier De Formation a la Haute Patisserie Pierre Herme. In 2010, he started Starter Bakery out of 1,400 square-foot space in Oakland before moving operations to their current facility in Berkeley.
Starter Bakery is known for fresh-baked breads and viennoiserie, including croissants and their lauded kougin amann. Whether this project is a new Starter Bakery outpost, or will be a separate venture, is still yet to be confirmed.
What we do know is that it will be a retail bakery and cafe open for breakfast and lunch, according to the permit. Based on the timing of this source, it’s likely that we won’t see an opening until 2022. For now, we will stay tuned to Starter Bakery’s website and social media for a formal announcement.
