The Historical Bakery Building

We Are Located in a Big Lake Historical Building
Look at our construction progress!
	Dec. 1, 2003 This brick fronted building is located in downtown Big Lake and dates from the 1920s, the earliest days of the city.
In times past, this same main street area was home to a dry cleaners, two jeweler stores, a drug store, a fine hotel, and in this particular building, a barber shop where I received my earliest haircuts......now, all gone. Gone too, is the railroad that was so vital to the town in that by-gone era.The original character and charm of the building are still very apparent but just as apparent is that fact that the building needs a lot of TLC. In the days to come I will document the buildings care and repair as I restore it to its former beauty. The NightOwl Bakery will be the next occupant of the old building and of the downtown area.
	Dec. 14, 2003 This is the state of the building with the awning now basically level. I have just started painting the transom. A very slow and difficult job having to climb out onto the awning from the two-window opening just to the left of the two painted windows.
Above the awning there is a plywood sheet covering the opening. I removed the gray paint on the outside of the windows to the right in the photo, but have not touched the ones on the left. The left hand side also has a plywood backing stretching all the way across the inside, covering the windows entirely. It will be a while before I work on the interior there. You can begin to see the dramatic effect a total painting of the transom frame will make, and I have not even finished painting all of the other wood trim around the doors and windows, either. I think I will paint the front of the awning white to make an improvement until I get the canvas strip ordered and up. And, I will have to order some brass kickplates, as the doors are 30". I need a 28" width for them. Too bad the smallest ones in the hardware stores are 30". The new brass hardware will have an immediate impact. After the painting is complete and some neon is visible in the windows, the effect will be nice, indeed! I'm wondering what, if anything, I need or could do to the concrete above the street in front of the shop
	This is the inside of the building. It used to be a barber shop where I got my first haircuts as a young boy.
	January 11, 2004. The cabinates and flooring are being installed now. The vent hood is the next construction item.
	January 21, 2004. The window signs are now installed. The green awing canvas is installed. The brass kickplates are on the door. Its starting to look like this is going to be a great business.
	February 1, 2004. The new TEXAS neon sign is now installed.now installed. There is a star showing where Big Lake is located. Look hard! The inside is now 75% complete. Opening day is not far away. The kitchen equipment is being installed. I should be cooking my first in house test donut with in a week. 150# of green coffee beans have been delivered.
	February 6, 2004. Almost finished.
	February 9, 2004. Open for business!!!
	August 1, 2004 Open six months, am now on a "roll"... still not making much "dough" but yeast bread sales are really "rising"..