It’s been just over a year since Simply Bread unexpectedly shut its doors. Now Chandler finally has a new artisanal bakery.
Bread Connection, located in the former Cathy’s Rum Cake space on the northwest corner of Alma School and Chandler Boulevard, had its soft opening over the weekend.
Owner Becky Smeraldo knows the bread biz. She and her late husband owned Chandler’s European Bakery, which was bought out by Simply Bread. After the sale, she spent two years as the well-regarded sales director for Simply Bread.
Now she’s back in charge, offering baked goods that include sourdough, marble rye, pumpernickel, foccacia, ciabatta, baguettes, kaiser rolls, crumb cakes, cookies and rum cakes.
Bread Connection also has a small lunch menu of salads ($4.49-$6.99), soups ($2.99-$3.99) and gourmet  sandwiches ($7.49-$7.99). Soups also are available in bread bowls ($4.99).
The space, which includes indoor and patio seating, is nicely decorated with large black-and-white family photos.
Look for Bread Connection to be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. until it gets up to speed. When it soon starts making bagels, it ‘ll be open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Related:
• Simply Bread closes – WTF?
• The rise & fall of Simply Bread
