Medicine Hat’s newest bakery seeing sweet success

The couple moved to Medicine Hat about a year ago from Innisfail AB. Jodi fell in love with the city, so they decided to sell their successful bakery after 12 years and relocate along with their five children.

“People are really friendly out here, and everything is kept really clean, and that’s really what attracted me to Medicine Hat. I wasn’t sure if I was going to start a business out here, but as soon as I started looking around, and we found Nav from the Arcade Plaza, that’s when I knew that it was the right time,” Joe Desjardins said.

Since opening their doors five weeks ago, their products have been selling out, from their sourdough to their buns. Part of their secret is the use of fresh, simple ingredients in every baked good. At the start, the majority of their clients came from the downtown core, but their clientele has grown significantly in the weeks since.

“ The word of mouth here in town, as long as you are putting out a quality product, you get good reviews, and the nice thing is, the people here talk to each other it’s like a big small town, so we do have clients coming in from Redcliff now, which we completely appreciate,” Desjardins said

Now weeks into business, plans are in the works to expand even further to a larger kitchen space, more staff and then some.

“ We are going to let them spill out in the atrium area build a good nest for people who would like to come out and be in a warm place and a nice atmosphere,” said Arcade Plaza’s Navneet Bhui.

The hope, according to Bhui is to bring back the Arcade Plaza’s bustling atmosphere. The Plaza, Bhui said has often been dubbed as Medicine Hat’s first mall.

“They built the building in 1968, and they finished building it in 1969, and this was the place to be during those times, until the Medicine Hat Mall was built. This was the place to be.” Bhui said

For Joe and Jodi Desjardins, they have no regrets about their decision to set up in the downtown core, despite conceptions about the area.

“I think it is the perfect place to set up your business. Why? Because you can probably do the loop of the downtown core in 20 minutes, and in that time you are going to see hundreds of businesses, Where else can you do that in the city? Nowhere.” Jodi said.

The couple is now encouraging others in the city with a business idea to take the leap and set up shop in the downtown core, just like they did a little over a year ago.

by Tiffany Goodwein

Medicine Hat’s newest bakery seeing sweet success

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