Uncle Pete’s Bread Co., the popular focaccia-based sandwich brand that launched as a pop-up and online business in 2024, is set to open its first brick-and-mortar location at 161 Baldwin Street.
The space will be shared with Dipped Donuts, with Uncle Pete’s handling the lunch crowd and Dipped serving dessert, according to Toronto Life. Owner Pete Petrovic tells What Now Toronto that he expects to open the company’s first permanent storefront on the third weekend of August. The opening menu will include two signature sandwiches and a side option.
The OG is built with rosemary focaccia, whipped lemon ricotta, mortadella, prosciutto, chili crisp, arugula, and balsamic glaze. The Pesto Pete features heirloom tomatoes, house-made basil pesto, and whipped lemon ricotta, and is also available in a vegan version made with baba ghanoush or hummus. A side of focaccia bites, accompanied by the house Holy Trinity Dip, rounds out the launch offerings.
At the heart of every sandwich is Petrovic’s house-made focaccia, a personal recipe he’s spent years developing. Baked fresh daily, the bread is light, airy, and full of flavor, with a crisp exterior and a soft, springy crumb. “It’s really the star of the show,” Petrovic says. “There’s nothing quite like a sandwich made with our focaccia — it brings everything together.”
“All of our ingredients and materials are sourced locally from Toronto businesses,” Petrovic tells What Now Toronto. “We use Grace Meat Market on College for our meats, Cheese Magic in Kensington for our cheeses, and International Cheese for our ricotta.”
Petrovic credits Dipped Donuts and Black Lab Brewing for helping the brand get off the ground.
“We’re very excited about sharing the space and partnering with the team over at Dipped Donuts – they’ve been instrumental to our growth since we launched in August of 2024.”
The brand is run by four longtime friends—Pete, Jules, Leo, and Jamie—who left behind careers in science, food, business, and music to build something rooted in community and great food. With Leo’s decade of experience running his own catering business and cooking in world-class kitchens like Harbour Sixty, and Pete’s scientific background, the pair brings a unique blend of precision and palate to everything they create.
“We’re local Toronto boys who have had some incredible times and memories in Kensington,” Petrovic said. “We just feel honoured to be there.”
Uncle Pete’s will launch with online pre-orders and scheduled pickup windows to help manage high demand and ensure a smooth service experience during the opening weekend.
