Fresh Baked Bread Coming to Springfield Avenue

The prayers of many carbo-loving Maplewoodians have finally been answered: A bakery will be opening later this year on Springfield Avenue and it will be baking and selling something other than cupcakes (not that we don't LOVE cupcakes....).

Pastries, coffee, soups, a juice bar and bread, lots of bread, every kind of bread — from baguettes to brioches — will be available and freshly baked on premises at the new bakery.

Huguette Jean-Romain operates a commercial bakery in Old Bridge, NJ, and is bringing her yeast-inspired expertise to Maplewood where she will open ID Bakery ("ID" stands for "incredibly delicious") later this year. According to a representative of The Community Advocates, which manages the Springfield Avenue Partnership, Jean-Romain decided to come to Maplewood because her husband works nearby — he has a dental practice in Irvington.

ID Bakery's major site plan will be reviewed by the Planning Board in April. Meanwhile, workers are on site at the former Ricciardi Brothers Design Showroom at Springfield Avenue and Indiana Street preparing the building for its new use and new owner.

Patch has a call in to Jean-Romain and hopes to bring you more details as ID Bakery nears its opening.

Diana Vitrano of The Community Advocates also announced the impending opening of another new business on Springfield Avenue at the Hilton Neighborhood Association meeting in February.

Across the street from ID Bakery's site, a help wanted sign hangs in the window of the future Kocafe at 1908 Springfield Avenue. According to Vitrano, Kocafe will offer breakfast, lunch, sandwiches, coffee, espresso, juice — and WiFi.