When Melanie Melle decided to leave behind her fine dining and corporate hospitality background, plus a history as a pastry chef, she had no idea something much more satisfying was ahead of her in her personal and professional journey.
She was recruited to a bakery by a group of investors, and upon walking into this little gem on the rocks of Saint Peters Village, she got goosebumps. “It was such a visceral reaction,” she shares. “I just knew I wanted to do this—it had such good energy.” This meant taking a small bakery in a small village in the heart of Chester County and making it fun and profitable. With that, Saint Peter’s Bakery was born.
It was 2009—we all know how the economy was then—and business was slow. “After getting the keys and recruiting bakers, business was still slow, and we did it all, my family and I. Baked, cooked, washed dishes, waited on customers,” Melanie says. “No job was too small, and we were happy to be here to serve our customers.” Melanie, her family and her bakery family turned it around, going through many changes before they got to the joys of running the bakery as it is today. “Success breeds success, as we support, promote and forge ahead.”
Now, in 2016, Saint Peter’s Bakery boasts 17 staff members, and people come from all over to enjoy the food. The building is over 100 years old and was originally the town’s General Store. You can just feel the good energy of the many people who have walked across the strong wooden floorboards. The basement also housed the French Creek Steam Bakery—a good omen to the current owners and their fresh wares. Local artists’ art adorns the walls, and patrons greet each other as they come in.
The bakery is a warm and comfortable space with tables and seating for many, and even more seating outside overlooking the famous Saint Peters Rock. The village is a great place to wander the trails, shop and dine. “This area is a destination, so people come here and take in the idyllic scene of the trees, the rocks, the waterfalls … and moreso, they relax with their pastries, drinks, food and sandwiches,” Mel explains.
In the kitchen, the well-trained staff uses the large proofer containers and the super-huge steam injection oven to create delicious loaves of bread with crispy crusts and soft interiors. The convection ovens produce amazing cookies, quiches, cakes, pies and more. The bread starters have a long, rich history dating back 100 years, and the breads are made without any chemicals of any sort. Everything is made from scratch daily, as Mel and her team take pride in fresh, original concepts for sweet and savory dishes.
The bakery also hosts birthdays and wedding showers and creates wedding cakes and other amazing sweets and full catering for various events. “There’s nothing like doing a bridal shower, then doing a baby shower a few years later, then a baptismal lunch for a family, as well as birthday parties and anniversaries,” Melanie declares. “Creating this kind of history and friendships with our patrons is priceless.”
The bakery and the village itself have gone through an evolution, and people are realizing what amazing things lay inside the double wooden doors—and down the winding village road. Pizza Nights are a staple on Friday nights, when live music plays from 7–9 p.m. while patrons unwind after a long workweek.
Saint Peter’s Bakery has also developed a following within local farmers’ markets in Phoenixville, Downingtown and other areas, where people come for fresh-baked bread, pastries and soups.
“I am doing what I love, forging friendships, creating a great space in this community; it is what matters,” Melanie explains. “See you at the bakery for a cupcake!”
Bakery hours are as follows: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. (Friday night is Pizza Night, with live music from 7–9 p.m.); Saturdays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sundays, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. A lunch menu is served from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. on these days. The bakery is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Please note that hours change seasonally. Free parking across the street.
Follow Saint Peter’s Bakery on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and check out all the latest specials and goodies on the bakery’s website.
Saint Peter’s Bakery is located at 3441 Saint Peters Rd. in Saint Peters Village; phone: (610) 469-7501.
- Photos: Christine Tarlecki
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