BREWBAKER'S PUB

by
Maryann Miller

If you haven't been to downtown Winnsboro in a while, you might not have seen the wonderful changes that have taken place in The Winnsboro Bakery & Cafe. It has had a facelift, inside and out, and is now Brewbaker's Pub. But never fear, the Winnsboro Bakery is still alive and well. Fresh baked items can be purchased at the Pub, as well as Online.

"Our Online business is growing quite well," says owner Jeff Heath. "More and more people are using the Internet to shop, especially for gifts, so our pound cakes and cookies are steady sellers."

The pound cakes, cinnamon rolls, and some of the breads and cookies were recipes developed by the original owners of the bakery, and when Jeff bought the business he kept some of the customer favorites on the menu.

The bakery side of the business has been moved, allowing Jeff to expand the kitchen, where cooks are busy six days a week. He offers a great breakfast, voted the Best of East Texas last year by The County Line Magazine, on Friday and Saturday mornings from 7 until 10:30. Lunch starts at 11 and dinner from 5 to 9pm.

Many of the dishes Winnsboro Bakery customers have enjoyed for years, like the Mufalleta sandwich and the Sizzling Goat Cheese Salad, are still on the menu, along with additions of burgers and an expanded dinner menu. A wide range of appetizers such as bacon-wrapped shrimp, Philly steak nachos, and cheeseburgers are offered, and dinner entrées include a Royal Beef Tenderloin and Tilapia with Mango Salsa. Between the lunch and dinner hours, diners can stop in for a salad and/of sandwich from 11 to close.

The Pub had what Jeff called "a soft opening" late in October with a concert by blues legend, Marty Christian, but it has also hosted local talent. Shannon Monk made her professional singing debut there this fall. For New Years Eve, a special dinner and concert is offered featuring Winnsboro's own, Lynn Adler and Lindy Hearne.

In addition to the live entertainment and good food, the Pub also serves beer and wine. "We have a club just like the Steakhouse and others in town that serve alcoholic beverages," Jeff said. "So the alcohol is actually owned by the members."

The renovations in the building have added more seating in front and in the back room, which has been redone to look like an Old World pub. Michael Monk was the general contractor on all the renovations, inside and out, and Jerry Ramsey did the amazing carpentry work on the bar and cabinets in the back room. To maintain the family friendly atmosphere, all alcoholic beverages are served in the back, and patrons can enter from Market Street or Main Street.

Cory Arburthnot, pictured here on the right, is the bartender at the Pub, and he says business has been good. "I think it is far exceeding the expectations Jeff had," Cory said.

Cory, who has lived in the Winnsboro area for about 20 years, said he was really happy to get the job at Brewbaker's. "I know a lot of the people who were working here and they told me about the opening," he said. "I met with Jeff and we both decided it was a good fit."

Jeff is a big supporter of performers, photographers and other artists, and the walls of the Pub are adorned with pictures, many of which are for sale. The items displayed include work by Barbara Richert, one of the original owners of The Winnsboro Bakery, as well as some of Jeff's photographs. He is an accomplished photographer and graphic artist and he designed the logo for the Pub.

When asked why he took the Bakery in the new direction, he said it was partially because it was a way to remain viable in the area, but he also said it was something he always wanted to do. "When I first bought the Bakery, it was with the intention of it eventually becoming a pub," he said. "But I didn't want to lose what had made the Bakery so popular, so I had to work toward maintaining that in a separate building and turning this beautiful old building into a pub."

A number of locals have really enjoyed having another place to meet up with friends for a snack and a drink. Doug Grantham, pictured here, stopped in recently before a rehearsal at the Winnsboro Art Center. He is currently starring as Marley in the production of Scrooge. Other members of the cast join him at the pub before and after rehearsal. To run lines? "Well, maybe. "