Barley Jean’s Bakery will join The District Exchange, which is slated to open in July in Concord at 22 Union St. N.
Owner Melissa Allen told What Now Charlotte that they have been running the small bakery business for about two and a half years, selling products at farmer’s markets and pop-up events. Their 200-square-foot space at The District Exchange will be their first brick-and-mortar location.
Allen said that the goal of The District Exchange is for businesses to work together and collaborate to bring in customers, which attracted her to the concept.
“We were not going to do our own standalone retail location, so we were looking for an opportunity that could be a community. We wanted to feel like we were a part of something bigger,” Allen said.
Barley Jean’s sells freshly made baked goods including breads such as cinnamon bread and focaccia; cinnamon rolls; baked snack mixes; granola; and cookies with chocolate chunk, sugar cookie and rotating options. There will also be dog treats available for purchase.
Allen said they have benefited greatly through retail programs such as the Retail Lab in Concord that helped them prepare to take the leap to a brick-and-mortar.
“We’re looking at how we can grow and work with the people in that building right now and in the next few years, and how to make that special,” Allen said. “That’s where our focus is right now.”
It will join other tenants such as old-fashioned candy shop Life is Sweet, which was also recently announced as a tenant.
