STORE AROUND THE CORNER: John Dough Bakery & Cafe

From the outside it appears similar to a number of East County storefronts, but inside the doors of John Dough Bakery & Café enticing aromas of freshly baked Artisan breads, homemade soups and decadent cakes and pastries waft through the air.

After spending the past six years in Lakewood Ranch, the East County bakery opened its new location June 5 in the Shoppes at University Centre. The family-owned business offers a wide variety of Artisan breads, pastries, desserts, soups, sandwiches and salads, among other items — almost all of which are made from scratch.

“We’re more like an old-fashioned bakery, co-owner Glenda Ekasala said. “We focus on low volume, high quality homemade products. We can tell you exactly what’s in it and what’s not. We know all of the ingredients because we make everything from scratch.”

A former lawyer, Ekasala and her husband, Bill, who spent his career working in the fine dining and restaurant businesses, opened their first bakery in 1996 upon retirement. The two bought an old business on Boca Grande and from there John Dough Bakery was born.

Bill Ekasala traveled around the country and into parts of Canada to learn the art of making Artisan breads.

“It is a craft,” Glenda Ekasala said. “You don’t just pick it up by a recipe.”

John Dough Bakery is known primarily for its Artisan breads — specifically its multigrain bread, — which are crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. All of the breads have their own starter, which are refreshed daily and help keep the bread fresh longer without adding additives or preservatives. The bread then ferments for 24 hours before going into the oven.

Initially, the couple focused primarily on baking Artisan breads, but over time the business began to expand its offerings.

About six years ago, the Ekasalas opened a bakery in Lakewood Ranch Corporate Park. With the opening of its new Cooper Creek location, the Ekasalas closed their Lakewood Ranch location to the public and now primarily use the space for preparation and production.

John Dough Bakery & Café is open seven days a week. The bakery also does catering and will take special orders for breads and cakes. Although it’s advised to call in orders at least two days in advance to ensure availability.

“It’s gratifying to see the results,” Bill Ekasala said. “It’s gratifying to have people come in and buy the bread and the sandwiches and everything that goes with it.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].

BASICS:

John Dough Bakery & Cafe

Owners: Bill and Glenda Ekasala

Address: 8527 Cooper Creek Blvd., University Park

Phone: 941-359-1900

Employees: About 20

Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday

Website: www.johndoughtogo.com

What makes the business unique: the family-owned bakery bakes all of its products from scratch on a daily basis.