Grand Opening, but wait, let’s have a Pandemic first :-(

Lika Velentzas, Owner and Pastry Chef at Arlington Bakery, Arlington, MA

It all begins with an idea.

Being in the restaurant business all my life, the idea of opening up something entirely different did not seem like a daunting task. Arlington Bakery had been here at this location for years. When the owners were ready to sell, I was looking to buy. It all seemed so easy. When I signed on the dotted line and grabbed the keys, I was left with the job of updating the bakery, not just cosmetically but underground and behind walls. After many months of construction, I was ready to open. I quickly learned that, although familiar, running a bakery was an entirely different hat to wear. At times, I felt overwhelmed, like I had made a mistake, I felt insecure, and then the world was hit with a pandemic, and life as we knew it, would never be the same. It felt surreal to read about restaurants closing down, businesses rearranging pretty much everything. Many offered their advice, “but I just set up my business. How can I change direction so quickly?” I would say. Furloughing my employees, I began only accepting orders that I could handle. In time, and with time on my side, I became more and more comfortable with my craft, and with comfort came confidence. Now, almost two years later, I appreciate and focus on what the pandemic meant for me and for my bakery. I appreciate the time to hone in on my craft, tweak my recipes, and accept challenges as they arise.