Barefoot Lane

Barefoot Lane LLC is open for business at 111 Second Street NW in Waseca. The grand opening took place May 30 and other than a little road construction on Second Street Northwest, everything has been running smoothly so far.

 

“The construction is supposed to be completed soon, so we’ll see,” said Christa Wadekamper, owner and proprietor of Barefoot Lane, who was a very busy baker, but took a few minutes to talk. This local business owner has a husband, Jese Rugroden, and a son, Oliver, 14.

 

Still early morning, the sun was shining through the front windows of her bakery, highlighting her display case filled with sourdough bread, cookies, pecan hazelnut rolls, and assorted bagels. Wadekamper came out from the kitchen wiping her hands off on her apron, which already had a few light dustings of flour. Accompanied by the smell of freshly baked bread, she pulled out a chair and sat down at one of the bakery’s dining tables.

 

Wadekamper mentions cookies are one of her most popular products, with different varieties on her shelves daily. The day she spoke with the Pioneer, the cookies were cranberry dark chocolate chips, oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip with peanut butter chips, white chocolate chip with cranberry, oatmeal chocolate chip. 

 

A customer came in with her two children; by the time they checked out, they had filled three separate bags with Barefoot Lane baked goods. Wadekamper continued, “Everything in my bakery was baked this morning, and is baked fresh every day starting at 3 a.m. when the morning baker arrives. The majority of items baked at the bakery are sourdough and everything is baked from scratch.” The flavors of bagels available are plain, kitchen sink, blueberry, strawberry, mixed berry, and chocolate with peanut butter chips, just to name a few.

 

The day begins with Danishes, croissants and pain au chocolates for available pastries and by lunchtime, meat and cheese croissants hit the bakery case. Different items are added throughout the morning such as cardamom buns and other tasty treats. Her menu changes every week, with a more definitive menu due to be available once the most popular bread flavors are determined. In the meantime, Wadekamper said, customers can up to date information on her Barefoot Lane LLC Facebook page where “I post updates with the weekly bread and bagel flavors each Sunday.” She sat up straight and proudly stated, “Everything here is made from scratch, I don’t ship any already made product in. I use as many locally bought ingredients as I can.” She was asked how many people she is employing now, “Eight, I have eight people working for me right now and at this time, I’m no longer hiring.”