Bread Box Bakery

300 E Fort Dade Ave, Brooksville, FL, 34601

In downtown Brooksville, on East Fort Dade Avenue, Bread Box Bakery has the feel of a business that grew the old-fashioned way: slowly, one loaf at a time. The owners began in 2018 by selling homemade breads and treats at local vendor fairs, and in the fall of 2020 they opened a storefront of their own, billing it as downtown Brooksville's hometown bakery. The case is built around bread, from artisan loaves to banana bread, but the kitchen goes well beyond the bakery counter. Reviews mention scones, biscotti, danishes, cinnamon rolls and cakes, along with quiche in spinach and sausage versions, soups that have included baked potato and West African recipes, and sandwiches such as a Monte Cristo, a ham melt and a meatloaf sandwich. A Thai crunch salad with chicken rounds out the lunch side of the menu, and there is coffee to go with all of it. Diners describe the food as made fresh daily, which also means the selection can vary from one day to the next. It is a small operation and it says so. The bakery identifies as women-owned, offers takeout, and has a free parking lot with an accessible entrance. Its website announces bread-making classes for people who would like to learn the craft, and an "Artist's Palette" mural by Gary Duquette and Deborah Elaine is part of the setting. The owners respond to customer reviews online, which suggests a business that pays attention to the people who walk through the door. Hours are short and worth checking before a visit. Google lists the bakery as open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and closed on Sunday. Google's listing puts a typical visit at about $10 to $20 per person. To ask about the day's offerings or the classes, call (352) 848-3755 or visit the bakery's website at breadboxbakery.net.