Flat Top Bakery celebrates a grand opening in new retail location
Flat Top Bakery will celebrate their grand opening at their new location at 233 Fair Ave. NW at New Philadelphia in the Shops at the Olde House Inn, a restored Victorian house built in 1850. The event will take place Oct. 7, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Originally a cottage business started in 2008 by partners Michael Lehr and Debbie Casto of Dover, the baker and the businesswoman (Casto has a background in business and continues to teach at Kent State Tuscarawas) have seen success in a business that began almost accidently when Lehr experienced health problems and sought an alternative to the highly processed, preservative-containing baked goods available commercially.
“I started baking bread that was better for me and then we discovered the kids liked it so I kept baking,” said Lehr.
The couple was approached by a representative of the Tuscarawas Valley Family Farm Market at a Dover Band Boosters craft show where they were selling their bread. After much consideration Lehr and Casto signed on as the then new farmers market’s first official vendors. Flat Top continues to sell their products each Wednesday at the Tuscarawas Valley Family Farm Market, now in their third season at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds at Dover.
Last April Flat Top began selling their products to the bakery at the Olde House Inn where owner Carolyn Berry had cookies and pastries available for sale. “We were basically supplying the bread for her bakery. We approached her and asked her if she wanted us to take over the bakery because we knew her schedule was so busy with her other projects. She agreed and it’s been a wonderful arrangement. She is so accommodating and has really made us feel at home,” said Casto.
Lehr and Casto opened for business in the Olde House Inn Sept. 19.
Where once only a few varieties of bread were available, Lehr has developed new recipes and is always expanding the line, which includes loaves with names like Oatmeal Raisin, Peasant Sour, Sun-Dried Tomato, Italian Olive Oil, Nuts and Twigs, Godfather, Drunken Onion and Hard Cider Oat Bran.
Other varieties include Loaded Peasant, which is Lehr’s favorite of all the varieties he creates. “This is 20 grain bread. It has everything in it. Oh My Rye is another great one. It’s not like a traditional rye that you think of with caraway. It’s made with amber bock and is very dense,” said Lehr. “Creepy Apple took some work,” said Lehr. “When I first made it, it kind of exploded. I tried again and instead of a filtered apple juice I used a locally produced unfiltered apple cider. It worked. The name came from the original attempt because it looked, well, rather creepy.” The current recipe produces an aromatic cinnamon scented loaf that makes great toast according to Lehr.
“Sometimes these recipes come to me at 2 or 3 in the morning,” said Lehr. “I’ll wake up in the middle of the night with an idea and write it down.” Casto admits to doing the same thing.
Casto creates and bakes the sweet items like customer favorites Junk Brownies, S’more Brownies and the newest confection, Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins. The menu of sweets is expanding as well.
Flat Top uses locally sourced, all-natural ingredients in all their products. They will gladly do special orders for small or large occasions.
In addition to their own products, Flat Top also carries a delicious, buttery caramel corn made by Miller’s Creamery at New Philadelphia, Ugly Dog Rub Co.’s dry rubs for meat and poultry created by local chef Cameron Krahel, locally produced honey from Alander’s Acres at New Philadelphia and beautiful handmade purses created by Casto on the rare occasion she has free time. Many other items are available in the shop.
Flat Top products are also sold locally at Miceli Meats at New Philadelphia, Daily Grind at New Philadelphia and Edelweiss Inn Restaurant and Pub at Sugarcreek.
The Shops at the Olde House Inn is also home to Alice Adair, a unique shop specializing in vintage goods and notions, which will be open for business during the bakery grand opening.
The public is invited to attend the grand opening where there will be free samples of bread and baked goods, door prizes, drawings and an opportunity to meet the owners.
Originally a cottage business started in 2008 by partners Michael Lehr and Debbie Casto of Dover, the baker and the businesswoman (Casto has a background in business and continues to teach at Kent State Tuscarawas) have seen success in a business that began almost accidently when Lehr experienced health problems and sought an alternative to the highly processed, preservative-containing baked goods available commercially.
“I started baking bread that was better for me and then we discovered the kids liked it so I kept baking,” said Lehr.
The couple was approached by a representative of the Tuscarawas Valley Family Farm Market at a Dover Band Boosters craft show where they were selling their bread. After much consideration Lehr and Casto signed on as the then new farmers market’s first official vendors. Flat Top continues to sell their products each Wednesday at the Tuscarawas Valley Family Farm Market, now in their third season at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds at Dover.
Last April Flat Top began selling their products to the bakery at the Olde House Inn where owner Carolyn Berry had cookies and pastries available for sale. “We were basically supplying the bread for her bakery. We approached her and asked her if she wanted us to take over the bakery because we knew her schedule was so busy with her other projects. She agreed and it’s been a wonderful arrangement. She is so accommodating and has really made us feel at home,” said Casto.
Lehr and Casto opened for business in the Olde House Inn Sept. 19.
Where once only a few varieties of bread were available, Lehr has developed new recipes and is always expanding the line, which includes loaves with names like Oatmeal Raisin, Peasant Sour, Sun-Dried Tomato, Italian Olive Oil, Nuts and Twigs, Godfather, Drunken Onion and Hard Cider Oat Bran.
Other varieties include Loaded Peasant, which is Lehr’s favorite of all the varieties he creates. “This is 20 grain bread. It has everything in it. Oh My Rye is another great one. It’s not like a traditional rye that you think of with caraway. It’s made with amber bock and is very dense,” said Lehr. “Creepy Apple took some work,” said Lehr. “When I first made it, it kind of exploded. I tried again and instead of a filtered apple juice I used a locally produced unfiltered apple cider. It worked. The name came from the original attempt because it looked, well, rather creepy.” The current recipe produces an aromatic cinnamon scented loaf that makes great toast according to Lehr.
“Sometimes these recipes come to me at 2 or 3 in the morning,” said Lehr. “I’ll wake up in the middle of the night with an idea and write it down.” Casto admits to doing the same thing.
Casto creates and bakes the sweet items like customer favorites Junk Brownies, S’more Brownies and the newest confection, Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins. The menu of sweets is expanding as well.
Flat Top uses locally sourced, all-natural ingredients in all their products. They will gladly do special orders for small or large occasions.
In addition to their own products, Flat Top also carries a delicious, buttery caramel corn made by Miller’s Creamery at New Philadelphia, Ugly Dog Rub Co.’s dry rubs for meat and poultry created by local chef Cameron Krahel, locally produced honey from Alander’s Acres at New Philadelphia and beautiful handmade purses created by Casto on the rare occasion she has free time. Many other items are available in the shop.
Flat Top products are also sold locally at Miceli Meats at New Philadelphia, Daily Grind at New Philadelphia and Edelweiss Inn Restaurant and Pub at Sugarcreek.
The Shops at the Olde House Inn is also home to Alice Adair, a unique shop specializing in vintage goods and notions, which will be open for business during the bakery grand opening.
The public is invited to attend the grand opening where there will be free samples of bread and baked goods, door prizes, drawings and an opportunity to meet the owners.
Published: October 4, 2011
