After more than a decade of operating behind the scenes, She Wolf Bakery has opened its first-ever customer-facing space inside the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Known for its commitment to local sourcing, the beloved bakery now has a brick-and-mortar café, a long-awaited step for the team that began baking loaves in the back of Roman’s in Fort Greene.
“Our bakery was born out of a restaurant in Brooklyn that was really committed to working with regional farms and thinking about seasonality,” said Kim Vallejo, business director at She Wolf. “Local is the why behind what we do.”
Founded in 2012, the bakery quickly earned a following at farmers’ markets around the city. Yet until this year, it had never had a space of its own.
“We’ve never had a physical presence before,” Vallejo said. “It’s been in the background, and so this opportunity was a chance to have a space for the first time and test out this idea.”
The new café, located in the Market @ 77, began a soft rollout in January and officially opened in May. It started small — just bread and drip coffee sold through a walk-up window — but has since grown to include espresso drinks, a rotating pastry menu and seasonal dishes sourced from local producers.
“We’re sourcing our dairy locally, we’re sourcing our flour locally, our fruit — everything we use is as local as possible,” Vallejo said. “It’s a place where we can get feedback and use our creativity.
She Wolf Bakery’s current offerings include pastries incorporating rhubarb, zucchini and blueberries, with lunch items and possible ice cream on the horizon. Vallejo doesn’t see the space as a traditional café, but as “a play space… where we get to try new things.”
The Brooklyn Navy Yard’s mission to support locally focused, community-driven businesses makes it a fitting home.
“She Wolf is a really perfect example of the kind of company that thrives here,” said Joyce Duverce, senior vice president of impact and partnerships at the Yard. “They are sourcing, hiring and producing locally.”
Duverce said the Brooklyn Navy Yard is a launchpad for small businesses, and sees it as a way “for us to open our doors and get the community to be able to access great food and community building.”
Looking ahead, Vallejo said the team is focused on expanding its menu, strengthening its wholesale program and deepening its relationship with the region’s food system.
“This has really been a chance to double down on our commitment to supporting local,” she added.
