Local actor opens Dad’s: A bakery built for community and a sweet return home
"When I describe this space, it’s a home base for sweet moments."
Dad’s storefront // Photo by Shea Coffman
No matter what career path you’ve been pursuing, changing course to follow your dreams is always possible—and Dad’s Bakeshop, Coffee, and Goods off 43rd and Main Street proves that.
Owner Shea Coffman opened up his bakery this May after only a couple of years of food industry experience, following two decades in the entertainment industry.
Working as an actor had been a fulfilling career, according to Coffman, but when he discovered the warm and comforting feeling of baking, he never looked back.
“I found baking later in life, which I love sharing, because people ask if I’ve been baking since I was a child,” Coffman says. “I was just in a place in my life where I found the kitchen to be the safest place I could be, both in my body, and spirit, and mind.”
Wanting to share these emotions with the people around him, Coffman decided to chase his dream in 2018 by going to pastry school.
Coffman quickly discovered while in school that his purpose was to build a space where people could feel comfortable and connected.
“In pastry school we did all of these check-ins; each quarter we would meet with the chefs, and they’d ask what industry we want to go into,” Coffman says. “I was like, I want to create my own space and have a sweet and safe spot that is rooted in community and love.”
Thus, Dad’s was born: The pieces finally came together earlier this Spring when Coffman found the perfect space to build his community.
Dad’s baked goods // Photo by Shea Coffman
Coffman spent 11 years away from Kansas City but knew he wanted to create his bakery in the area where he grew up.
“I call it like a universe claw machine of things started rearranging, and I realized I was being set on this path to return to my hometown,” Coffman said. “I kind of proverbially see it as like, as a youngster, I packed up all my stuff and journeyed off to find myself, and now I feel I’ve come back to share that with people.”
The time away grew Coffman’s connection to love and helped him realize Kansas City was where he wanted to stay.
“To come back having a better understanding of what love is and what love means, to be able to share that with a town, a city that I love and a community that I love,” Coffman says. “I got my start here as an actor; what better place to get my start as a bakery owner?”
KC seems to love Coffman right back, as Dad’s has received overwhelmingly positive feedback so far. Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Coffman has sold out of treats multiple weekends in a row.
“When I set out, I was like, I will sell a dozen cookies a day. And I am growing so fast. People are really loving it, not only spatially, but from the offering, what’s on the counter,” Coffman says. “I’ve been so overwhelmed with love, and it’s been so nice to embrace that and let it fill my cup, so I can pour it out into other people’s cups.”
The name Dad’s was inspired by Coffman’s feelings of warmth and comfort, something he felt as a previous dog dad.
“I was the dad of a dog; he was my soulmate. I picked out the name before he passed, like two days before I moved back to Kansas City to make all this happen,” Coffman says. “The space has become a manifestation of all the love that he’s shown in my life.”
Inside of Dad’s // Photo by Shea Coffman
Coffman completely renovated the space for Dad’s to reflect his values of community, changing the layout to feel like “Dad is giving you a big hug”.
The logo itself is a quilt square to represent how warm and safe it feels to be wrapped up in a quilt.
Dad’s will continue to grow in the upcoming months with Coffman planning multiple events to expand its reach based on the community’s need for more of that Dad’s feeling.
“I wildly underestimated the love that people would have for what I’m offering to the world, and also the love for space,” Coffman says. “When I describe this space, it’s a home base for sweet moments.”
Dad’s sells a variety of baked goods and serves coffee from Blip Roasters.
Dad’s Bakeshop is at 104 E. 43rd St., Kansas City, MO.
