We’re happy to report that the closing of Ed’s Custom Bakery in Conway, which we reported in last week’s Whispers, appears to have been temporary and that, under new ownership, Ed’s plans to reopen Tuesday. (But the bakery beat is surprisingly fast-paced and volatile, so please be sure to call Ed’s or check with its Facebook page for further developments.)
We’re also happy to clarify that Brown Sugar Bakeshop, though it did shut down its brick-and-mortar location on East Third Street in the River Market District, is open in a pop-up format as Brown Sugar Bakeshop-Express and is temporarily located at 801 S. Chester St. at the Food Truck Stop @ Station 801. That’s the indoor food truck/food court in the former service station at 801 S. Chester St. (the corner of Eighth and Chester).
Kristi Williams, who owns Brown Sugar with her sister, April, said the bakery left the River Market location because it needed more kitchen space. “We were really, really cramped for space, and we were like, ‘OK, well, let’s just take it a new direction for our seventh year,” she said. “We were trying to diversify our business a bit.”
To that end, Brown Sugar is planning later this month — a date hasn’t been pinned down — to move its retail location to the corner of JFK and McCain in North Little Rock and operate as what Williams calls “a drive-through dessertery.”
Brown Sugar, which has been in business since March 2009, also is preparing to take to the road with its own food truck and will be visiting downtown, including the Eighth and Chester location. “We’ll be making regular stops downtown. Little Rock won’t have to fret,” Williams said. She hopes to have the truck on the road in March.
Brown Sugar also will continue its delivery service. “That’s something that’s really been taking off,” Williams said.
“We’re making it very easy to get to us,” she said. “That’s been our biggest issue since we opened in the River Market area.”