A beloved Germantown bakery is getting ready to start a sweet new chapter. Palmer House Bakery, well known to customers of JoJo’s Espresso for the delicious pastries it’s provided, is preparing to open a storefront of its own, bringing locals a new way to enjoy the concept’s established favorites alongside fresh selections in a warm, welcoming, and convenient space.
Palmer House Bakery is making steady progress towards opening its doors; the shop currently has a certificate of occupancy under review with the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development for 1730 Germantown Road.
Palmer House is a shared labor of love between Ashley Pier and her daughter Sophie. Sophie launched the business and Pier-who very generously made some time to speak with What Now Memphis about this exciting new chapter the bakery is about to embark on-took on a larger role as Sophie grew her family. Pier explains: “After she and her husband had their first baby, I took on more of the central role in operations so she could spend more time at home with her daughter. Sophie handles all of the custom cakes.”
Pier assures fans who have come to know Palmer House through JoJo’s that the new bakery won’t require them to veer far from the espresso cafe: “We’ll have our own storefront across from JoJo’s, next door to Buff City Soap.” Pier states. “Thornwood had approached us previously about opening a space, but the timing didn’t feel right. When they reached out again, it felt like the perfect opportunity, and we jumped at it!”
The new location will not impact JoJo’s customers’ ability to grab a sweet treat alongside their java-Pier and Palmer House will continue to provide the cafe with delectable bites. Pier explains: “JoJo’s has been an important part of our journey, and we’re grateful for that relationship. We’ll continue supplying JoJo’s with pastries while growing our own retail storefront.”
Pier and the Palmer House team are committed to ensuring the concept’s inaugural storefront becomes a place visitors want to return to time and again. Pier describes her vision for the bakery, saying: “We want Palmer House Bakery to feel like a little gem in Thornwood — special, yet welcoming and approachable. The aesthetic will be simple, timeless, and European-inspired with thoughtful details. More than anything, we want a warm, inviting space where people can enjoy something delicious, pick up a treat for a loved one, or find something special for their table. It’s important to us that the experience feels just as thoughtful as the baking itself.”
Palmer House will function primarily as a grab-and-go establishment, though limited seating will be available for customers who simply cannot wait to sink their teeth into a tasty treat. Pier states: “We’ll have a few seats, but the space will primarily focus on takeaway. We will offer a daily selection of freshly baked goods alongside preorders for celebrations and special occasions. We love the idea of guests popping in for a quick treat or picking up a box of pastries to share.”
When asked if the new space will find Palmer House growing its menu, Pier responds with an enthusiastic “Yes! Having our own storefront allows us to expand our menu and introduce new items. We’ll continue making customer favorites, including our gluten-friendly offerings, while expanding our daily selection with pastries, cookies, muffins, scones, and seasonal treats. The menu will evolve with the seasons, and I’m especially excited for guests to see what we’re baking fresh each day.”
Future regulars shouldn’t have to wait too much longer to stop into Palmer House’s new home; while a precise opening date isn’t available yet, Pier says she is hoping customers will be able to pick up Thanksgiving pre-orders from the Germantown storefront.
Pier and her teams are excited to hit the ground running, energetically embracing this new opportunity. She sums up their feelings succinctly but meaningfully, saying: “We’re thrilled to have a home of our own for Palmer House Bakery and can’t wait to share it with the community!”
