Bent Wing Bakery is open for business and ready to soar
The wait for delicious pastries is over now that the bakery has opened its doors
Photo Courtesy of Grace Terhune
On Wednesday, Sept. 30, Bent Wing Bakery and Cafe had its first warm welcome to Geneseo, with an opening reception filled with community, warm drinks, and delicious food. Invitations to the event promised guests “a curated menu of food and drinks,” which quickly went above and beyond guests’ expectations. Food options included several sandwiches, with a guest favorite being the caprese on focaccia bread. Other snacks and treats included pumpkin scones, brownies, various types of cookies, london fogs, and hot chai lattes featuring eye-catching latte art.
Bent Wing Bakery is a continued labor of love from Piper, one of the original founders of the coffee shop Cosmic Charlie’s, which closed down in late July, announced via an Instagram post on the official Cosmic Charlie’s account. While many familiar Geneseo community members were saddened to hear about Cosmic Charlie’s closure, they will be happy to realize that the welcoming energy from the closed shop has carried over into Bent Wing Bakery and Cafe. In efforts to continue tradition, the many plants that once thrived on the windowsills of Comic Charlie’s were brought to the new space and now call Bent Wing home; all have names chosen by the establishment’s owners and employees. The line up includes Nala, Simba, Jonathan, Roberto and many other plants that decorate Bent Wing’s floor and window space.
The mood and music were delightful during the opening reception, including live music from the Silas Richardson Cello Group which played from 6-8 p.m. The lively music fit the tempo of the night which was filled with chatter and praises for Bent Wing, and hopes for its future success in the town of Geneseo. For employees such as Sam Petroci, who worked previously under Piper at Cosmic Charlie’s, the excitement of the night was personal. When asked by The Lamron about her experience and what she was most excited for, she enthusiastically exclaimed that she is “excited for everything!” Sam also said that she was “so excited to see what Piper does in her own space.”
The welcome reception drew a mix of longtime Geneseo residents, alumni, and campus leaders. Lorie Ames, a Geneseo alumna who now works at the Wadsworth Homestead and knows Piper closely, described the space as “very classy,” a statement that many others present echoed. Another notable member of the community who made an appearance was SUNY Geneseo’s President Melinda Treadwell. While speaking with The Lamron, President Treadwell emphasized her enthusiasm for the new bakery and the importance of community, and its impact in Geneseo. She stated delightedly that she “was so happy for Piper” and that she “loved the vibe” in the new eatery.
Bent Wing Bakery opened officially to the public on the morning of Friday, Oct. 2 to a crowd eager to try all of what the shop had to offer. The bakery is already cementing its place as a welcoming hub for all—beyond just a cafe—on Geneseo’s Main Street. The bakery plans to host Bent Wing Wednesdays from 7-8 p.m. The first Bent Wing Wednesday on Oct 7, as announced on the bakery’s official Instagram, plans to host the Silas Richardson Group to perform live music for guests. The artists performing in the space thanked Piper and the Bent Wing Bakery and Cafe in the announcement post “for providing a space where art and artists are supported.”
The Bent Wing Bakery and Cafe Instagram page shares that the new space will be open every Wednesday through Sunday, from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Guests will be greeted with a warm environment—and an even more warm and cozy chai latte.