When a specialty coffee and ice cream shop was closing its doors, three friends came together to create a new (sweet) concept.
Connected to the popular R Bar Steakhouse, former owner Shari Smith wanted to keep the business alive after selling the restaurant. Locals Rita Berkenbile and Laura Casey shared a similar dream and suggested expanding the concept to also offer fresh flowers and baked goods.
In 2021, the trio converted a red barn on 10th Street W, and Red Barn Bakery was born.
“We try to do a lot of stuff from scratch,” said Smith. “We have a lot of homemade cake, tasty homemade pies, homemade cookies, desserts like the cinnamon rolls, and all sorts of cheesecake.”
The menu also evolved, and the eatery offers both made-to-order breakfast and lunch. Lunch items include smash burgers, sandwiches, homemade soups, and more, with a breakfast menu available all day.
Smith says Red Barn Bakery’s most popular savory breakfast items are typically the Breakfast Burrito or the Bagel Breakfast Sandwich, both of which are available with or without meat.
“we’re very invested in the community of lemmon. we are very involved.”
-Rita Berkenbile
For a sweet breakfast, The Ultimate French Toast is another popular choice, stuffed with Danish cream and topped with strawberry sauce.
With the bakery, options for a sweet breakfast go on and on, including danishes, cinnamon and caramel rolls, muffins, donuts, Bear Claws, and more.
Smith reveals her favorite as The Farmhouse Breakfast served with biscuits and gravy, eggs, meat, and hashbrowns.
“When I want a good, hardy breakfast, I always choose the Farmhouse,” said Smith. “And we can make a smash burger at 7 a.m. People do it.”
A crowd favorite is the Scramble Bowl with eggs, meat, cheese, and veggies scrambled together.
The restaurant is also a hot spot for specialty drinks, like Americanos, the Big Train, Bubble Tea/Pop Pearls, Red Bull Zingers, smoothies, and Italian sodas.
GET IT WHILE IT’S HOT
Fresh items in the bake case go fast, especially the bakery’s specialty donuts.
Red Barn Bakery also has a food truck. Smith says the truck comes out for auction sales, events, and town celebrations.
Their space can be rented out for events, meetings, and gatherings with catering services available.
“We pretty much do whatever the client wants. Our taco bar is pretty well known, and everyone really likes it,” said Smith. “We’ve done breakfast, lunch, and evening catering.”
From ribs to pasta bars to fresh fruits and salads, the trio says they’ve catered it all. Depending on what the event needs, Smith says they’ll drop it off, serve the food, and help in whatever way they can.
Berkenbile says they also cater the bakery items to-order, along with homemade ice cream cakes and anything else on the menu.
“We’ve changed the menu over the last few years,” said Casey. “As we come up with ideas, we try them out.”
DRIVE ON “THRU”
Don’t want to get out of your car? Go through Red Barn Bakery’s Drive-Thru Window.
“We’re lucky there’s so much to do in this community. Lemmon has a lot of neat facilities here that bring in people all throughout the year, not just during tourism season.”
-Shari Smith
With an open atmosphere, friendly interconnectedness, diversity, and quality food and drink, Smith says she’s endlessly proud of the Red Barn Bakery.
“We’ve pulled off a lot of last-minute events,” Berkenbile said. “It’s amazing how many people come together, helping us pull off service for events in a short amount of time.”
“We’re always proud of the product and the service we provide our customers,” Smith added.
The staff at the bakery feel much like a family, reveals Casey. She says they often help each other when support is needed in their individual lives inside and outside of work.
“We’ve all stepped in and played our part to make sure the business still stays open for the community,” added Casey.
Smith, Casey, and Berkenbile all agree they look forward to building their clientele, being consistent, and providing good food and service. From catering jobs, to running the food truck, to early morning preparation, the three owners and founders find joy in everything they do.
