This is our first shop, in Orangevale California…(it feels like a hundred years ago…)-just a ¼ mile from the kids school, and another ¼ mile from our house. It was (unknowingly) a perfect set up for a mom to be a restaurant owner. They say naiveté is bliss….truly, there was no way to see what this would become….

Our first shop was intended as a catering kitchen, nothing more. It had a cute corner storefront that fit about fourteen seats for guests. We bought a used espresso machine from the little mini-mart two doors down, and baked a few muffins to get started. Lo and behold, people came!

Within two and a half years we were popping at the seams. When we finally announced that we were going to move to Folsom, our customers were so mad that we were going to be “so far away” that we had to post a sign saying “the new shop is 2.6 miles, or 6 minutes, from here.” Thankfully, most of those customers found their way to the new location!

When we decided to move to a new location in Folsom it was an enormous step. We were about to go from 14 seats to 60 inside and 60 outside! Yikes.

This is a picture of the new location in Folsom…before we began the renovation Karen was determined to keep current the current crew on board during the renovation, so everyone helped with the construction. Bakers built framing, dishwashers helped with plumbing, everyone ran errands….no one lost their job during the 4 ½ month renovation.

One of the best things about Karen’s Bakery Café is the crew. We’ve always had a great time working with all sorts of people…it’s amazing to think at one time we only had four employees…now we have 38!

We really found a home in Folsom. Our location is perfect for the active, energetic crowd we draw from our Folsom surroundings. The American River Bike Path is right outside our front door. The Folsom Historic District is a draw for all kinds of events and interesting businesses. We’ve had world class athletes, world famous musicians, international wine dinners, and of course, lots and lots of local folks here. We love being a part of the local Folsom community. It’s been a fantastic place to grow a business!