Bloom is thriving at the City Market

With ambitious plans for a specialty cake department and a growing staff, the folks at the Bloom Baking Company (15 E. 3rd St.) are hoping to become a fixture at the City Market.

“I want us to be known not only for exceptional products, but also really personal service. I make it a point to know our regulars’ names and where they work,” says Janet O’Toole.

Together with fiance and co-owner Stephen Zaragoza, O’Toole began renovating the former Succotash space in January. The bakery opened on March 13; since then, it’s gone from one employee to 15.

“Everyone has to have the same heartstrings,” says O’Toole. “This is a fun place to work. Thankfully, everyone has come to us just when we needed them.”

That includes the newest hire — baker Greg Connally, who was brought over from Whole Foods to help launch the company’s specialty cake services. (Tomorrow, we’ll ask Connally five questions about what’s it like in Bloom’s kitchen). 

The space is a blend of modern and folksy — call it Restoration Hardware meets Urban Mining Homewares. A big “B” (formerly part of the ABC Storage Company’s sign) catches attention on the right wall, but equally intriguing is the decal of a farmer wearing a fedora while riding a tractor on the other wall. It’s an homage to O’Toole’s 98-year-old father. A rectangular chandelier casts a soft glow on the concrete floor and the two pastry cases.