A bakery cafe with three locations in Ellington plans to expand to downtown Hartford.
LuAnn’s Bakery & Cafe has leased space on the ground level of the Brownstone Building at 190 Trumbull St., which was previously a Citizen’s Bank branch.
The cafe will serve breakfast and lunch, including soups, wraps, paninis and salads, along with freshly baked pastries, scones, muffins and cookies.
Owner Josh Virkler said the cafe will feature modern decor with a city-like feel.
“We’re more country here in Ellington, so we want to bring in some of the same decor elements, but also something that fits in a downtown setting,” he said.
A full remodeling of the interior space is planned, including knocking down walls and installing a kitchen.
LuAnn’s Bakery & Cafe already has a presence in Greater Hartford. It sells wholesale baked goods to Big Y grocery stores in Ellington, Tolland, Mansfield, Manchester and Enfield, along with smaller grocers such as Avon Prime Meats.
The bakery also sells wholesale products to the local delivery service Modern Milkman.
LuAnn’s three Ellington locations include a production facility and a cafe on Somers Road, and a drive-thru on West Road.
“Everything is baked here at the hub, and delivered to each location every day,” Virkler said.
The business has been expanding. The drive-thru opened in 2020 and the production facility opened in 2022.
LuAnn Hoffman founded the business in 1980 and ran it from her home until 2017.
“They had zero living space on the main floor anymore, so it was very much time to get it out of the house,” Virkler said.
Hoffman retired in 2021 and Virkler bought the business from her.
Virkler said there is strong demand for a lunch spot in downtown Hartford. There will be in-restaurant seating, but he also expects a brisk takeout business, as well as catering for downtown offices.
The building at 190 Trumbull St. is owned by Udolf Properties of West Hartford.
