Hoping to lure holiday shoppers with the sights and scents of cinnamon rolls, caramel rolls and other treats, Duluth's Best Bread has opened a kiosk at Miller Hill Mall.
"We thought the time was right to expand even further and try something new," said Robert Lillegard, who co-owns the bakery with his brother, Michael.
Duluth's Best Bread, which has been at 2632 W. Third St. for just over a year, has massively increased its hours and added new staff, including two new bakers.
"We went from being open eight hours a week to being open 80 hours a week," Lillegard said, since the Lincoln Park location is only open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays and does a lot of business wholesaling for restaurants.
Now the bakery's kiosk opens with the mall and closes an hour before the mall shuts its doors.
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The kiosk sits between Teavana and I Lake It near Younkers and has a holiday focus, rather than offering the bakery's full line of goods at all times.
"There's some gift baskets, and people can put in catalog orders," Lillegard said. "Cinnamon rolls and caramel rolls are the main focus; those are popular in the mall at Christmastime."
The kiosk itself was proudly handmade by Lillegard's pregnant wife and 60-year-old father in a garage: "When you have a family business it really becomes a family business," he said.
Fridays through Christmas will feature a new treat at the kiosk as well as at Pelican Coffee, Red Mug and At Sara's Table. Macarons take the stage this week, followed by homemade Pop-Tarts, kouign amann and almond croissants.
"Fridays are really fun," Lillegard said.
The mall location, which opened Nov. 23, might not be a permanent fixture, as Duluth's Best Bread hasn't committed to a long-term lease.
"We're able to rent for just a little over a month," Lillegard said. "We have to see where it goes."
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