Bakery of Light is opening at 1538 Hendricks Ave in San Marco, taking over a nearly 2,400-square-foot corner space formerly occupied by Hightide Burrito Co. Owners Sergey and Olesea Kutsiy confirmed to What Now Jacksonville that they’re targeting a mid to late October opening, growing the business out of six years of custom cake and catering orders Olesea has run out of their home.
The couple built their following almost by accident. When they moved from the Tri-Cities area of Washington to St. Johns six years ago, Olesea thought she’d left her home baking business behind, until a woman from their church offered to find her customers within weeks of the move. “I think I’m good,” she recalled telling her at the time. The first order came a week or two later, and she’s stayed busy ever since.
The menu will lean on both American and Slavic cooking, including bread, pastries, cakes and full meals, along with placinta, a flaky savory pastry filled with cabbage, meat or cheese. Sergey is especially eager for customers to try the cabbage version. “It seems strange, but I fight for the cabbage,” he said. “Roasted with just enough salt. You have to try it.”
Sergey told What Now the bakery is Christian-based, Christian rooted and themed throughout, with plans to host regular worship nights for people from churches and the surrounding community. He said the space will be open to church groups broadly rather than tied to any single congregation, giving them room to gather for Bible studies, fellowship or other meetings. That vision matches what’s already taking shape inside the building, textured walls with Christian imagery and raised inscriptions reading “Keep the Faith!” and “God’s Love,” booths and counter seating facing Hendricks Avenue, and a small stage beneath a mural of Jesus guiding a lamb, where the couple hopes to host live music and worship led by church youth and other performers.
Sergey summed up the bakery’s guiding idea simply. “Our motto is to be the light in someone’s life,” he said.
