From Pandemic Pop-Up to Main Street Staple: The Rise of Resilience Bakery
When shopping for bread, a quick press on a loaf measures resilience and can tell us a lot - a lively spring back indicates freshness and high quality. For Anne and Paul of Resilience Bakery on Main Street in Canandaigua, having a spring back spirit defines their journey and what they hope their family business can bring to the community.
Born during the pandemic, Resilience had to live up to its name right out of the gate. Working out of a borrowed space in NY Kitchen, Anne and Paul started with pre-orders and pop up shops in 2020. “It feels wild to say that we were building community through cookies, but that is really what we were doing.” So much was broken apart - how could they help mend it?
Over time, they built up regular customers, formed friendships and decided they wanted to do all they could to be a part of the downtown comeback post-pandemic. It took two years of searching for the perfect location before they landed on the oldest commercial building in Canandaigua - a label that comes with a lot of charm (and quirks). It was a family effort to get the space up and running; everyone helped with the details including building shelving, hanging signs, and painting walls. They also enlisted the assistance of their neighbor Joe at Skip’s Custom Flooring for supplies, and received the gift of his sage advice and friendship as a bonus. The ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate their opening at their permanent location was packed with supporters and (too much) funfetti cake - and it marked the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for Anne and Paul.
The menu is personal and reflects family favorites. The cinnamon rolls are what Anne bakes every Christmas morning for her kids. The sea salt chocolate chunk cookies are based on her mom’s recipe that has been tweaked and refined over the years. Bear claws are Paul's go-to treat. The vegan chocolate cake recipe was first made for a friend’s wedding. Anne and Paul are quick to point out that they work hard to make the menu inclusive - many of their friends and family need gluten free and vegan options so it is their goal to provide a variety of selections to accommodate those needs.
Paul designs all of the custom cakes and makes sure that everything is not only delicious, but beautiful as well. “It is an incredible feeling to make someone’s wedding cake, then be asked to create something for a baby shower and birthdays in the years that follow. Getting to be a part of the most special moments of people's lives is really wonderful.”
Collaborations with other businesses and local charities is also a priority and the bakery is a staple at all downtown events. You can find their baked goods at Kix on Main as well as at Kershaw Coffee. Plans are already underway for the holidays - the Thanksgiving Day parade marks the start of their hot chocolate season (including homemade marshmallows!) and they will be open this Saturday for the downtown Fall festival, Fall Into Canandaigua.
For Anne, baking holds a quiet magic - an act of care that reflects the heart behind the family business. As she puts it, “It feels good to share the things you love.”
Learn more about their menu, location and contact info by visiting them at Resilience Bakery and on their website at https://www.resiliencebaking.com.