Downtown’s Heartside neighborhood just got a little sweeter.
Open Door Bakery, a social enterprise of Dégagé Ministries, has officially expanded its retail hours, menu, and service offerings. Located at 144 Division Avenue South, the cozy bakery—tucked into the corner of Dégagé’s campus—has become a meaningful symbol of second chances, fresh starts, and, of course, really good cookies.
What started as a small baking program to teach job skills has grown into a full-scale retail operation now run entirely by women who were once guests at the shelter. Each has since transitioned into housing and permanent employment through Dégagé’s workforce development program.
The bakery continues to serve as a cornerstone of Dégagé’s workforce development mission, employing women who have transitioned from shelter stays to permanent housing.
Now, with its new extended hours—Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and weekends, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.—the bakery hopes to welcome more foot traffic from downtown workers, neighbors, and passersby. Those working in the Heartside area can even receive a local discount.
In addition to its popular lineup of cookies, cupcakes, and bagels, the expanded menu now includes:
Made-to-order bagel sandwiches
Yogurt parfaits
A monthly muffin flavor
Six flavored coffee options to complement your morning visit
The growth of the bakery builds on a 2024 expansion of Dégagé’s campus, which added space for programming, shelter beds, and retail operations along Cherry Street between Division and Sheldon.
Open Door Bakery continues to serve up community impact alongside sweet treats—making it one more reason to support local.
For the women behind the counter at Open Door, the bakery is more than a job. It’s a space of healing, confidence-building, and community—a place where hope is baked daily.
