Manna Bakery, the pop-up that has had Philly market regulars queuing up for hours, is finally putting down roots in Kensington with a planned May opening for its first brick-and-mortar shop. Owner Saif Manna, who built the business during the pandemic, is bringing Levantine flavors such as manakeesh, sumac-spiced buns and Basque-style cheesecake into a permanent kitchen while keeping his regular stops at the Rittenhouse, Headhouse and Clark Park farmers markets on the schedule.
According to Philadelphia Magazine, Manna has been personally mapping out the kitchen and dining flow in the new space as he gets ready to welcome customers this spring. The profile follows his daily routine and details how family recipes shape much of the menu, and it notes that he shifted production from a shared commissary kitchen into the Kensington shop as part of the transition.
From Dorm Room Cookies to Farmers-Market Frenzy
As outlined by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Manna first started baking cookies in a Temple University dorm room during the pandemic after a girlfriend pushed him to try selling them. That dorm project grew into a run of pop-ups and farmers-market stalls, where fans were willing to wait hours for pastries that riff on the Levantine cooking of his grandmothers.
The Kensington Shop Takes Shape
PHILADELPHIA.Today reports that the bakery is moving into the former Essen Bakery space at 110 W. Berks Street in Kensington, with renovations that began last month. The outlet highlights menu standouts such as manakeesh seasoned with harissa and za'atar, a mix of sweet and savory buns and slices of Basque-style cheesecake.
A Bakery-Café with a Nighttime Menu
The Philadelphia Inquirer notes that Manna acquired much of Essen's existing equipment and expects only light construction in the space, which is set up to seat about 60 people. He told the paper he intends to run the operation as a bakery-café by day and a restaurant at night, while still showing up at his regular farmers-market spots even after the storefront opens.
What This Adds to the Local Scene
Manna's Kensington move is part of a broader wave of pop-up vendors graduating into full-time storefronts and adding new flavors to Philadelphia's long-running bakery tradition. For a deeper look at his routine, family influences and how the menu came together, check out the feature in Philadelphia Magazine.
