Thirty-seven years ago, Anne and David Bradt, former summer residents of Nantucket, decided to retire to the island. As a way to stay busy and occupied during their "retirement" they bought The Nantucket Bake Shop from the gentleman who began the business twenty years before. Now one might have found them ill-equipped to run a bake shop, David being an engineer and Anne a teacher, but they felt that they could handle the running of a small, seasonal business and were ready to embark on their adventure. With one major addition, bakers, they knew it would fly.
Enter into the picture, Magee Bradt and Jay Detmer. College students with the summer off, they came to Nantucket to plan a fall wedding. The short story is that Jay took on the task of learning everything about bread baking from Joe, while Magee took over the pastry baking shift. By Labor Day everyone was confident that the Nantucket Bake Shop was able to carry on the traditions established for twenty years. In the fall, when the Bake Shop closed the door for the season, no one imagined that a lifetime career lay ahead, filled with growth and development and tradition.
As master baker, Jay oversees the baking production and is responsible for every loaf of Authentic Nantucket Portuguese Bread produced. Bringing experience gained from other bakeries in the off-season, he has expanded the product line to meet the changing tastes of today. He produces the only fresh, raised donuts made on Nantucket. He has introduced a full line of hearth breads and breakfast items, and his products are featured in some of Nantucket's best restaurants and inns.
While managing during the day, Magee oversees the front of the shop as well as the baking. The Nantucket Bake Shop has continued with the traditional favorites like raspberry squares and apple turnovers, while evolving a line of pastries that include elegant desserts, tempting cookies, savory cocktail treats, and pies of all sorts. In addition, the Nantucket Bake Shop specializes in cakes: birthday cakes, anniversary cakes, wedding cakes, anything you can imagine cakes! Special orders are no problem.
In early 2009, the Nantucket Bake Shop won a contest sponsored by General Mills and the Retail Baker's Association. They had been chosen from hundreds of bakeries across the country to receive a renovation of their retail space. Have no fear - little has changed!! The heart of the plan was a desire to "improve our customer's retail experience while maintaining the historic traditions we all value." The Grand Reopening took place in the spring of 2010, complete with the Pillsbury Doughboy! Check out The Nantucket Bake Shop Facebook Page for details.
The Nantucket Bake Shop is now a member of Sustainable Nantucket, whose mission is "to preserve the community character of Nantucket while sustaining its economic and environmental vitality." Each Saturday during the summer months, you'll find them at the Farmers and Artisans Market located just off Main Street. It is a terrific way to connect with new customers and offer loyal friends another outlet.
The Nantucket Bake Shop is also a member of Think Local First Nantucket, the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, and the Retail Bakers of America.
In 2008, Nantucket Bake Shop was featured in the book, Nantucket, Portrait of an American Town, by Mary Haft. Mary recounts the history of the Bakeshop as an "Island Institution."
Once again, The Nantucket Bake Shop has been voted Best Bakery on Nantucket by the readers of The Inquirer and Mirrorand Cape Cod Life magazine, with mentions in Well Wed Magazine, Plum TV and the New York Times. They take great pride in all the media attentions, but, more importantly, they enjoy the support from all of their faithful friends. You are the ones whose opinion really matters!
