For those feeling the seasonal pull towards carbs, Greenmont is a good place to stock up on artisan baked goods. In days gone by, the first floor of a historic home at 89 Kingwood St. was renovated to accommodate a neighborhood bakery.
Daily Kneads operated in the space until 2007, and the optimistically named New Day Bakery opened soon after. New Day Bakery closed in 2015, but some former employees refused to let the fire go out. Within months, the newly renamed Phoenix Bakery was open and making dough again. This month, it will celebrate eight years in business.
The bakery looks very similar to its previous iterations. The shop area is superimposed over the former front sitting room of the home. Original details like gleaming wood trim, built-ins, and a tiled fireplace coexist with a pastry display case, a beverage station and a little lending library.
Through a doorway is a workroom where the baking magic happens. The brick oven produces many fine pastries and bread products.
The bread menu is built around basics like baguettes, ciabatta and multigrain. To round it out, there is a rotating cast of specials, such as Cheddar Jalapeno Stuffed Ciabatta on Wednesdays and Olive Rosemary on Saturdays.
In the evenings, Phoenix’s brick oven is put to good use, making pizza to feed the hungry masses. They can be made to order from a list of basic and deluxe toppings. There are also some enticing house specials like the Diablo (red sauce, sausage, jalapeno, chipotle, and mozzarella) and Flammkuchen (white sauce, bacon, caramelized onion, mozzarella, and gruyere cheese).
Phoenix Bakery is open from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday. Its Facebook page (facebook.com/phoenixbakerywv) frequently includes menu updates and specials.
The bakery has regenerated several times over the years, starting fresh with new names and updated menus. Like its predecessors, Phoenix Bakery rose to meet Morgantown’s call for fresh, wholesome bread products.
EVA MURPHY is a freelance business writer for The Dominion Post. She writes a column on businesses, churches and other entities in the city.
