Warren Restaurant Looking For Investors To Support Expansion, Re-Launch Of Bakeshop

WARREN, RI — A Warren restaurant is seeking new investors to support efforts to expand its current space and re-launch its bakery.

Bywater, located at 54 State St., launched its Mainvest crowdfunding campaign to support the expansion and re-launch of The Bakeshop, which will open at 277 Water St.

The fundraising goal is $75,000, and as of March 6, nearly 75 percent of the goal had been raised, Bywater owner Katie Dickson said.

"We are thrilled to launch this Mainvest campaign and invite our community to join us in our mission to expand Bywater and create a new, spacious home for The Bakeshop," Dickson said. "With the funds raised, we will share resources and be able to enhance every aspect of what we serve and how we serve it, in both locations."

Bywater, which opened in summer 2015, is known for its locally sourced and seasonally inspired dishes. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Bywater was reduced to takeout-only, Dickson and her team unveiled The Bakeshop, a window-service café pop-up offering sourdough breads, European-style pastries, artisanal roasted coffees, and espresso beverages.

During this effort, coupled with the reopening of the dining room, where guests enjoy dishes from executive chef Luke Mersfelder, Bywater surpassed its pre-COVID-19 sales numbers by nearly 20 percent, Dickson said.

In September 2022, Bywater paused The Bakeshop’s operations while seeking to bolster its staff with new hires and to conduct training on a realistic and manageable schedule, Dickson said. Since initiating the pause, Bywater has continued to serve artisanal coffees from different roasters, and fresh breads and more baked to accompany its menu items at Warren’s local culinary incubator Hope & Main’s shared kitchen spaces at 691 Main St.

With pandemic shutdown protocols eased, and with its dining room open to full capacity, Bywater's management recognized the need for more space and a permanent home for The Bakeshop. In January 2023, Dickson applied for a special use permit to bring The Bakeshop to the Carriage Shop / Garner’s Paint Shop, which was built in 1790, at 277 Water St.

Mainvest, headquartered in Salem, Massachusetts, is an investment platform that connects brick and mortar businesses with investors. Members of the community can become a part of the growth of Bywater by investing as little as $100 and reap financial rewards over time through revenue sharing.

The rate of return is determined by the business’s gross revenue and the percentage of revenue they share each quarter.

For more information, visit Bywater's investment page.