Laune Bread, the whole grain sourdough spot on East Lake Street, is about to go quiet for a bit. The bakery has announced it will temporarily pause operations starting Aug. 16 as the owners scale back production and trim staff. The plan is to flip the lights back on Oct. 1 with shorter hours, a smaller pastry case and a leaner operation that looks a lot more like the bread-centric business they started with. Employees were told Thursday that a substantial reduction in the workforce is coming as the owners steer the shop back to its bread-first roots.
Co-owners Tiff Ri and Chris MacLeod say the reset is about survival with principles intact, keeping fair wages and benefits while trying to make the business sustainable. Staff were also told the bakery will end its bread subscription program and that owners plan to support employees through the shift, according to Minnesota Star Tribune.
Why the owners say the break is needed
Ri and MacLeod pointed to a sluggish January for sales, rising costs for ingredients and labor, and neighborhood disruptions tied to the federal enforcement effort known as Operation Metro Surge. Those incidents have been linked to steep economic damage across the city’s hospitality scene, according to an updated assessment from City of Minneapolis.
Laune’s local history and community role
Laune started as a subscription micro-bakery before landing a brick-and-mortar home on East Lake Street in January 2022, building a following around whole grain loaves made with locally milled flour and regular community giveaways. The bakery’s site lists its Lake Street address and highlights bread donations and community dinners that have helped root it in the Longfellow neighborhood, Laune Bread notes.
When to expect Laune back and what will change
The shop is slated to return Oct. 1 with new hours, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, plus a trimmed-down pastry lineup that keeps the focus on core loaves. For the full rundown on the temporary closure and the owners’ statement, see the report in Minnesota Star Tribune.
