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Place of Grace Acquires Beloved Huntington Bakery

We’re excited to announce that we’ll be expanding our recovery ministry’s social enterprise program, Gracefully Gourmet! Beginning March 2025, Bear & Beak Bakery in downtown Huntington, Indiana will officially be rebranded as Gracefully Gourmet.

For the past four years, Bear & Beak Bakery has been a staple of the Huntington community—delighting customers with a wide array of baked goods, including cookies, breads, pastries and more. Its founders, Kyle and Sharon Metzger, will be stepping away from the business and handing over the reins to our nonprofit which is dear to their hearts, marking an exciting new chapter in the bakery’s legacy.

A Beautiful Story: Worlds Colliding

This momentous change has its roots in a story that goes back more than eight years. In 2017, Sharon founded Place of Grace, an organization that provides faith-based residential recovery services to individuals overcoming addiction, trauma and poverty. The current Executive Director, Brittany Renkenbeger, transitioned into leading the ministry in 2021.

Sharon and Kyle’s decision to open Bear & Beak Bakery in 2021 was driven by their desire to give back to the Huntington community and create a space that brought people together. Over time, the couple found themselves stretched thin by the demands of running a small business and their personal lives.

“We love this beautiful place and feel we’ve created something to be very proud of,” Sharon said. “We set out to try something new, make Huntington a better place, and stretch ourselves creatively, and we feel we’ve done just that. We also have sacrificed so much to make this business successful. That includes time with family, resting our bodies, celebrating holidays to their fullest and saving for our future. We know we are ready for a change.”

As it turns out, that change could not have come at a more perfect time.

A Natural Transition: Gracefully Gourmet Expands

Place of Grace already had plans to expand their social enterprise program, Gracefully Gourmet, which currently specializes in gourmet popcorn. This new bakery allows our ministry to not only diversify its offerings but also to provide more job readiness training opportunities for the individuals we serve. The social enterprise program is designed to help our residents gain valuable work experience as they prepare to re-enter the workforce.

“I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for this new venture for Place and Grace. He is up to something big here. That we are confident of!” said Brittany.

Gracefully Gourmet will now offer a full range of treats, including cookies, pastries, pretzels, bagels and breads, in addition to lunch options like soups and salads. Although the bakery’s name will change, loyal customers will still be able to enjoy the same delicious treats they’ve come to love along with a few new menu items as well.

One notable change is that the bakery will no longer accept custom cake orders, allowing them to focus on expanding their offerings and meeting the growing demand for daily baked goods.

A Community Win: Why This is Good for Huntington

For Sharon and Kyle, the decision to sell Bear & Beak Bakery to Place of Grace was a natural one. They were looking for a way to transition out of the business while ensuring the bakery could remain a vibrant part of the community.

“This is truly a win-win for us, Place of Grace and Huntington,” Sharon said. “What a valuable resource for our community! We have no doubt that Brittany and her team will bring the bakery to the next level and it will thrive under her leadership. We are sad to close this chapter on our lives, but couldn’t imagine leaving it in better hands.”

What’s Next: A Month of Reflection and Gratitude

The transition will take place over the next month, with the bakery officially changing ownership by the end of February 2025. Sharon and Kyle plan to spend their final weeks reflecting on their journey and celebrating the successes and memories they have made at Bear & Beak Bakery.

“Thank you for trusting us for the past 4 years to provide you with high quality treats in this small town that we know and love. We will be forever grateful,” Sharon said.

As Gracefully Gourmet steps in, the future looks bright for this beloved local business. Customers can look forward to enjoying their favorite bakery items with a new twist, all while supporting a mission that provides life-changing opportunities for individuals in need.

To learn more about Gracefully Gourmet and its new offerings, be sure to stop by in the coming weeks and follow the bakery on social media for updates. Here’s to a sweet new chapter for Huntington’s favorite bakery!

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