After working at the bakery and rising her way to manager in a short time, Scout Nord, a local Bloomington-Normal resident, is ready to take on her new role as the newest owner of Kelly’s Bakery and Café!
Kelly’s Bakery, famous for their delicious cinnamon rolls and soups, and most recently, their keto-friendly desserts, opened in Downtown Bloomington in 2005. Scout joined the team in 2012. Starting as a part-time employee, and then moving up to manager, she took on additional responsibilities over time. She found a true passion for the bakery and the loyal customers that their staff served throughout the community.
Although Scout knew the in’s and out’s of the bakery, when she had the opportunity to purchase the business, there were many unknowns. Having never owned a business herself, there were multiple pieces of puzzle that she knew needed to come together – which is when she turned to the SBDC. Scout shares that the SBDC provided her with many resources that she could turn to for further assistance, and “helped me set goals to meet between visits.” With the help of the SBDC and other local service providers, Scout officially purchased Kelly’s Bakery and Café on July 2, 2018!
The Bakery is open from 7am-3pm, Monday through Saturday, and serves breakfast and lunch. Their dessert case is also full of handmade treats that customers rave about. To expand on their current offerings, Scout shares that “I would like to see us take on delivery service, increase caterings out and about in town, and add an espresso machine.” Scout went on to share, “I would also like to create an environment where my employees like to come to work, are treated with respect, and compensated fairly for their time.”
In addition to their regular café hours, you can also try one of their famous cinnamon rolls or other treats at the Downtown Bloomington Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings. Visit their location in Downtown Bloomington at 113 N Center St., or call and place a catering or take-out order at (309) 820-1200.