Yesterday, Redwood Gospel Missions opened Redwood Gospel Baking Co. at 2447 Summerfield Road in Santa Rosa, pairing laminated pastries with on-the-job training for people in the mission’s residential programs. The small cafe sells housemade croissants, kouign-amann and espresso while trainees rotate through production and front-of-house shifts. Organizers say the model gives students real work experience and a clearer pathway to employment.
A Bakery With A Purpose
As reported by Sonoma Magazine, the cafe’s case features croissants (listed at $4.50–$5.50), kouign-amann ($6.50), glazed lemon scones ($4.50), avocado toast ($6) and a short lunch menu of sandwiches and salads, with lunch service beginning at 10:30 AM. The magazine notes that pastries are produced on-site by students working under experienced bakers. Photos from a pre-opening weekend showed customers and volunteers filling the dining room, an early sign that the community is willing to show up for both the carbs and the cause.
Official Details And Hours
Per Redwood Gospel Missions, the bakery is located at 2447 Summerfield Road and is open Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 2 PM. The mission listed a grand opening and ribbon-cutting on April 14 and said the cafe will complement its coffee certification program. Leaders describe the bakery as an extension of the mission’s job-training ecosystem that pairs classroom time with public shifts, so students can move from theory to a real rush-hour pastry line.
Students In The Kitchen
Sonoma Magazine reports that Paul Haddorff, the mission's director of food services, oversees the kitchen alongside longtime bakery owner Doug Cavaliere and said, "We want to see transformation in the lives of our students and measurable impact on the community." The article also highlights LaDonna Lane, a food-service manager who completed the mission’s program decades ago, and a barista named Wayne Murray who trained through the program. Organizers say trainees gain production, customer-service and espresso skills before seeking outside employment, learning how to laminate dough and pull a decent shot in the same workday.
Part Of A Broader Training Network
Redwood Gospel Missions already operates related enterprises, including a coffee roastery, a catering business and thrift stores, as part of its training and employment work, according to the organization's website. The Santa Rosa Metro Chamber also listed a ribbon-cutting for the new bakery on its events calendar, signaling business-community support for the venture. Staffers say the combined model is meant to build local hiring pipelines while giving trainees tangible workplace experience.
Mornings are likely to be the busiest time as laminated pastries are made in small batches and tend to sell fast. For neighbors, the new bakery offers a low-stakes way to support a local nonprofit while grabbing a morning croissant and watching trainees put their skills to work. Check the mission's website for the latest hours and any menu updates.
