Wonder City Bakery: Brick & Mortar!
Donation protected
WCB IS OPENING A STOREFRONT IN HOPEWELL THIS FALL! SEE DONATION PERKS/REWARDS BELOW.
The people of the Tri-Cities have spoken—and I listened.
Hey, there! I’m Trish Honaker, owner of Wonder City Bakery LLC. After enormous and continued encouragement from all you hungry folks, I’ve secured a lease at 245 East Broadway Avenue (the former Burnette’s space) in downtown Hopewell to share delicious, scratch-made treats with the community. I’m delighted to bring this dream to life, but I need your help!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Our target for opening is the fall of 2019, and reno planning is already underway. Please share a link to this fundraiser on social media and with friends and family. Message me with sage advice for this adventure. Contribute financially, if you’re able (see perks below!). Lastly, please visit us once we’ve opened!
I registered this campaign before realizing GoFundMe removed the rewards system in recent years. I still want to entice and thank all of you donors, so let’s try this manually, shall we?! For those who donate at a level with a tangible perk, I’ll message you directly for contact info; please look out for my message so I can get the reward/perk in your hands. Also, for anyone who donates a minimum of $10: I’ll give a big public “Thank You” via social media, unless you donated anonymously / wish to remain anonymous!
***ALL TANGIBLE PERKS WILL BE AVAILABLE/SENT BEFORE JANUARY 2020. I WILL KEEP EVERYONE UPDATED ON PROGRESS!***
$10: Shoutout & A Pastry
Shoutout on social media (unless anonymous) and a single pastry of your choice once we open our doors.
*Please mention your name when you visit us so we can note you got your pastry!
$50: WCB Mug & Cookies
Cozy up with a WCB mug and a dozen chocolate chip cookies topped with sea salt!
*In-store pickup or shipping within the U.S. I’ll contact you directly to confirm method of receipt and shipping address, if applicable.
$100: Swag Bag
A custom-printed canvas tote bag filled with a WCB mug, a bag of local coffee beans, and a voucher for a single pastry of your choice.
*In-store pickup or shipping within the U.S. I’ll contact you directly to confirm method of receipt and shipping address, if applicable.
$200: Swag Bag & Cake/Pie
Everything from the $100 Perk AND a voucher for a 9” cake or pie of your choice. Fantastic for a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or just because!
*In-store pickup or shipping within the U.S. I’ll contact you directly to confirm method of receipt and shipping address, if applicable. Must place and confirm the cake/pie order at least 48 hours in advance. The earlier you place your order, the more likely it is that you’ll secure the desired date! The voucher itself can be mailed with the swag bag, but the actual dessert must be picked up at the bakery (or can be delivered locally for an additional fee).
$400: Private Baking Class
Eat, sip, and learn how to make your favorite WCB item with up to three of your pals, right in WCB's kitchen! We’ll provide a delicious meal and beverages for you to enjoy while baking your way to bliss.
*Date restrictions apply (holidays and things like that!). I’ll contact you directly to confirm a date and answer any questions you have!
$1,000: Catering for Private Party
This is the big kahuna, folks. Do you have an important meeting, anniversary, birthday, or other special occasion coming up? Maybe you just want to throw a heck of a party. Let us fuss over the food spread (savory AND sweet) and beverages for up to 12 people! We'd be happy to host in the bakery after business hours or travel to you.
*Date restrictions apply (holidays and things like that!). I’ll contact you directly to confirm a date and answer any questions you have!
Beyond $1,000: Whoa, let’s talk!
For donors who contribute beyond the $1,000 mark: you’re a ROCKSTAR. Let’s put our heads together and figure out what WCB can do to convey our immense gratitude! Whether that looks like catering for a large crowd or hundreds of pastries for your company (or just yourself—no judgment), we’re all ears!
THE STORY & MISSION
I’ve baked for friends and family for many years, as a hobby. During the last two years, I ramped up: I had the joy of serving customers at the local farmers market, through custom orders, and even at Guncotton Coffee when I supplied pastries during the spring of 2018. All the while, I worked full-time at a Richmond law firm and was approaching burnout from trying to “do both.” After serving the firm for nearly seven years, I resigned in April 2019 to pursue baking full-time. I had the opportunity to learn and work at a bakery in Richmond for the last few months, which affirmed my desire to open a brick & mortar in the Tri-Cities.
WCB’s mission is to celebrate life through fantastic food in a space that honors and fosters community. This new storefront will allow me to carry out that mission in the following ways, and I’m beyond chuffed.
1) More food to reach more people. Baking out of my home was a low-risk way to launch a food-based business; however, I simply can’t meet customer demand by making everything in tiny batches for my tiny home oven! Baking in a commercial space means a bigger quantity and variety of food (read: not just room temp-stable desserts. Breakfast items and veggie dishes, anyone?) for a wider audience (more neighbors, including wholesale accounts).
2) Local employment. I don’t, and can’t, operate WCB alone. While my closest friends and family members have been my biggest cheerleaders and shown up for WCB whenever necessary, I’ll need a dedicated team to make the brick & mortar a success. I’m excited to hire a small number of employees and form new working relationships with them!
3) Local products. Not only do I plan to utilize and feature some ingredients from local food producers, but I’ll also dedicate retail space to local artisan wares. If you'd like to be, or recommend, a local food or retail partner, please message me so we can chat!
4) Workshops & special events. Once the bakery is operating smoothly, I’ll host periodic workshops for baking and other crafts. I’m also exploring the idea of reservations for private gatherings, such as birthday parties.
THE NUMBERS
The commercial space is a blank, empty canvas. I need funds for equipment, furnishings, employment expenses, inventory, and recurrent services (e.g., accounting/bookkeeping, pest control, dishwasher rental & maintenance, etc.). This GoFundMe campaign targets WCB’s largest “one-time” costs: equipment and furnishing. Here’s a breakdown:
1) Major Equipment: reach-in fridges, double-stack convection ovens, commercial mixer, three compartment sink, refrigerated display case, ice maker, stove, and work tables
2) Checkout/Display Counter Build-out (incl. shelving and glass sneeze guard)
3) Smaller Tools & Storage Solutions: utensils, pots, pans, cambro containers, baking sheets, bakery racks, metal shelving for storage, etc.
4) Furnishing for Guests: tables, chairs, and sofa
Thank you for sharing in this journey with me, and I hope to see you in the bakery soon!
The people of the Tri-Cities have spoken—and I listened.
Hey, there! I’m Trish Honaker, owner of Wonder City Bakery LLC. After enormous and continued encouragement from all you hungry folks, I’ve secured a lease at 245 East Broadway Avenue (the former Burnette’s space) in downtown Hopewell to share delicious, scratch-made treats with the community. I’m delighted to bring this dream to life, but I need your help!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Our target for opening is the fall of 2019, and reno planning is already underway. Please share a link to this fundraiser on social media and with friends and family. Message me with sage advice for this adventure. Contribute financially, if you’re able (see perks below!). Lastly, please visit us once we’ve opened!
I registered this campaign before realizing GoFundMe removed the rewards system in recent years. I still want to entice and thank all of you donors, so let’s try this manually, shall we?! For those who donate at a level with a tangible perk, I’ll message you directly for contact info; please look out for my message so I can get the reward/perk in your hands. Also, for anyone who donates a minimum of $10: I’ll give a big public “Thank You” via social media, unless you donated anonymously / wish to remain anonymous!
***ALL TANGIBLE PERKS WILL BE AVAILABLE/SENT BEFORE JANUARY 2020. I WILL KEEP EVERYONE UPDATED ON PROGRESS!***
$10: Shoutout & A Pastry
Shoutout on social media (unless anonymous) and a single pastry of your choice once we open our doors.
*Please mention your name when you visit us so we can note you got your pastry!
$50: WCB Mug & Cookies
Cozy up with a WCB mug and a dozen chocolate chip cookies topped with sea salt!
*In-store pickup or shipping within the U.S. I’ll contact you directly to confirm method of receipt and shipping address, if applicable.
$100: Swag Bag
A custom-printed canvas tote bag filled with a WCB mug, a bag of local coffee beans, and a voucher for a single pastry of your choice.
*In-store pickup or shipping within the U.S. I’ll contact you directly to confirm method of receipt and shipping address, if applicable.
$200: Swag Bag & Cake/Pie
Everything from the $100 Perk AND a voucher for a 9” cake or pie of your choice. Fantastic for a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or just because!
*In-store pickup or shipping within the U.S. I’ll contact you directly to confirm method of receipt and shipping address, if applicable. Must place and confirm the cake/pie order at least 48 hours in advance. The earlier you place your order, the more likely it is that you’ll secure the desired date! The voucher itself can be mailed with the swag bag, but the actual dessert must be picked up at the bakery (or can be delivered locally for an additional fee).
$400: Private Baking Class
Eat, sip, and learn how to make your favorite WCB item with up to three of your pals, right in WCB's kitchen! We’ll provide a delicious meal and beverages for you to enjoy while baking your way to bliss.
*Date restrictions apply (holidays and things like that!). I’ll contact you directly to confirm a date and answer any questions you have!
$1,000: Catering for Private Party
This is the big kahuna, folks. Do you have an important meeting, anniversary, birthday, or other special occasion coming up? Maybe you just want to throw a heck of a party. Let us fuss over the food spread (savory AND sweet) and beverages for up to 12 people! We'd be happy to host in the bakery after business hours or travel to you.
*Date restrictions apply (holidays and things like that!). I’ll contact you directly to confirm a date and answer any questions you have!
Beyond $1,000: Whoa, let’s talk!
For donors who contribute beyond the $1,000 mark: you’re a ROCKSTAR. Let’s put our heads together and figure out what WCB can do to convey our immense gratitude! Whether that looks like catering for a large crowd or hundreds of pastries for your company (or just yourself—no judgment), we’re all ears!
THE STORY & MISSION
I’ve baked for friends and family for many years, as a hobby. During the last two years, I ramped up: I had the joy of serving customers at the local farmers market, through custom orders, and even at Guncotton Coffee when I supplied pastries during the spring of 2018. All the while, I worked full-time at a Richmond law firm and was approaching burnout from trying to “do both.” After serving the firm for nearly seven years, I resigned in April 2019 to pursue baking full-time. I had the opportunity to learn and work at a bakery in Richmond for the last few months, which affirmed my desire to open a brick & mortar in the Tri-Cities.
WCB’s mission is to celebrate life through fantastic food in a space that honors and fosters community. This new storefront will allow me to carry out that mission in the following ways, and I’m beyond chuffed.
1) More food to reach more people. Baking out of my home was a low-risk way to launch a food-based business; however, I simply can’t meet customer demand by making everything in tiny batches for my tiny home oven! Baking in a commercial space means a bigger quantity and variety of food (read: not just room temp-stable desserts. Breakfast items and veggie dishes, anyone?) for a wider audience (more neighbors, including wholesale accounts).
2) Local employment. I don’t, and can’t, operate WCB alone. While my closest friends and family members have been my biggest cheerleaders and shown up for WCB whenever necessary, I’ll need a dedicated team to make the brick & mortar a success. I’m excited to hire a small number of employees and form new working relationships with them!
3) Local products. Not only do I plan to utilize and feature some ingredients from local food producers, but I’ll also dedicate retail space to local artisan wares. If you'd like to be, or recommend, a local food or retail partner, please message me so we can chat!
4) Workshops & special events. Once the bakery is operating smoothly, I’ll host periodic workshops for baking and other crafts. I’m also exploring the idea of reservations for private gatherings, such as birthday parties.
THE NUMBERS
The commercial space is a blank, empty canvas. I need funds for equipment, furnishings, employment expenses, inventory, and recurrent services (e.g., accounting/bookkeeping, pest control, dishwasher rental & maintenance, etc.). This GoFundMe campaign targets WCB’s largest “one-time” costs: equipment and furnishing. Here’s a breakdown:
1) Major Equipment: reach-in fridges, double-stack convection ovens, commercial mixer, three compartment sink, refrigerated display case, ice maker, stove, and work tables
2) Checkout/Display Counter Build-out (incl. shelving and glass sneeze guard)
3) Smaller Tools & Storage Solutions: utensils, pots, pans, cambro containers, baking sheets, bakery racks, metal shelving for storage, etc.
4) Furnishing for Guests: tables, chairs, and sofa
Thank you for sharing in this journey with me, and I hope to see you in the bakery soon!
Organizer
Trish Honaker
Organizer
Hopewell, VA