Imagine waking up to amazing scents of fresh bread and pastries. Well, for folks in Milan, it’s nothing to imagine as each morning the Milan Square is filled with the smells of fresh bread, bagels, croissants and so much more. And, buyers from all over the region are flocking to this mom-and-pop bakery.
Baker On The Square was established in March 2022 by Richard and Amy Shafer, longtime Milan residents. When the couple decided to open their bakery, there was no other place than home and right on the beautiful historic village square. The building where the bakery is located, 47 Front St.
, was built in 1900 and has been home to many businesses over the years. Such businesses include JC Dorr – Groceries and Notions in the early 1900s and the Milan Post Office until the late 1960s. When Richard Shafer was 5 years old, he received his first bike from the Cycle Shop at the location, and ironically enough, his father, also named Richard, a local photographer, owned and operated The Ice Cream Emporium in the very same store front in the 1970s.
The building has a strong family connection. So, when the couple purchased the property in 2021, they embarked on a nine-month renovation to restore the building’s integrity with a “vintage modern” decor. Shafer calls himself a life-long novice baker, being influenced by his grandmother and his parents.
“Baking is something I’ve always been good at. So when we decided to make a life change, a bakery was a natural fit,” he said.