Bakery Reopening With Naval Academy Grad As New Owner

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A West Annapolis bakery reopened Wednesday under new management after a temporary closure while the outgoing owner looked to sell the business.

Great Harvest Bread Co. is now led by Joe Kirby, a 1990 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.

The Capital Gazette reported that Kirby bought Great Harvest after reading the newspaper's January story about fellow Naval Academy alumnus Frank Dembia planning to sell or close the bakery. The exact terms of the sale are not known, but the Capital Gazette said the initial asking price listed online was $175,000.

The bakery, located at 208 Ridgely Ave., was closed temporarily in early February to coordinate the sale.

"When I heard about it, that it was going to be closing and maybe going away permanently, I felt like I had to act, and I felt like the community needed to preserve this," Kirby told the Capital Gazette. "Not only preserving what it is but building it into even more [with] greater involvement with the community. I'm all about the service to all of our first responders, police, and fire … I want to engage with veterans, the Naval Academy alumni."

The bakery reopened on Feb. 20 for a short stint, but it closed again in early March to let Kirby recruit and train new staff. The shop held a pop-up sale on March 16, the day before St. Patrick's Day.

Great Harvest returned on Wednesday for its soft opening, during which the hours will be 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays through Mondays. It will be closed on Tuesdays.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, soda bread will be available through this Monday.

Other options include Dakota, Challah and cinnamon chip breads. Gluten-friendly buckwheat bread and blueberry muffins will be available daily. The menu also features four types of scones, cookies and muffins.

"Our menu will be changing weekly, starting in April. So be on the lookout for YOUR favorites as we bring the bakery back to full capacity," Great Harvest said Tuesday on Facebook, announcing its March menu.

To learn about Kirby's plans to add sandwiches, salads and seating, read the Capital Gazette's story. Only Capital Gazette subscribers are able to access the article, however.

Anybody with an Anne Arundel County Public Library card number can read the Capital Gazette's story at this link by searching "Great Harvest Annapolis."