Wayfarer Bread & Pastry is preparing to expand beyond its location in Bird Rock, at 5525 La Jolla Blvd., with local partners targeting other coastal San Diego communities. The bakery has partnered with Rise Collective, a San Diego group led by Randy Corrigan, McKenzie Cox and Stacy Meronoff.
Founded by baker and owner Crystal White, Wayfarer is known for its artisan breads, baguettes and kouign-amann. The partnership marks the beginning of a growth plan, though additional locations and timelines beyond the first North County target have not been confirmed.
According to San Diego Magazine, White will transition into a creative director role, overseeing new ideas, quality control and the bakery’s creative direction while remaining closely involved. The Bird Rock shop will continue operating as it does today, and its employees will remain with the business.
In comments to What Now San Diego, Corrigan said the initial expansion will focus on coastal communities.
“With Bird Rock being home, the brand just seems to fit in that coastal environment,” he said. He added that “all of San Diego deserves a high quality bread and pastry product,” expressing hope that the bakery will eventually reach more of the city.
The partners have not announced a specific site, but they expect to open their first North County location by the end of 2027. Corrigan told San Diego Magazine that Encinitas and Oceanside are among the possibilities for future locations.
The expansion is intended to preserve the way the original bakery operates.
“The idea is every Wayfarer is going to be a stand alone bakery,” Corrigan told San Diego Magazine, explaining that each shop would make its products from scratch in-house every day rather than receive bread shipped from a central kitchen.
Rise Collective described the partnership as an opportunity to support an independent business without compromising what makes it distinctive.
“Rise Collective is truly honored to have the chance to work with Wayfarer and with Crystal,” the group told What Now San Diego. “It is such a special bakery and we can’t wait to begin on this journey.”
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