Old neighborhood gains old-style bakery

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The old-fashioned bakery that used to dot the corners of so many neighborhoods is back, at least in Albuquerque.

Two friends, Stephen Kierniesky and Jim Mecca, have opened up Bosque Baking Company in a neighborhood on the edge of downtown.

Located on Coal Avenue SW between Ninth and 10th streets, it offers a variety of handmade sweets, breads and sandwiches. Most made with ingredients from local farmers.

Kierniesky said he chose an old neighborhood for a reason.

"I've always been attracted to old buildings," he said.  "I'd rather people have initiative to come and find us maybe in a slightly out-of-the-way place."

Kierniesky said the shop was a slow work in progress that started with him selling his bread to people in his neighborhood. He then moved on to a downtown farmer's market and was encouraged to take things one step further.

From there he quickly learned there aren't a lot of local bakeries around town.

"I noticed that a lot of nice restaurants were getting their bread from Santa Fe," he continued.  "So a kind of light bulb went off in my brain."

He soon asked for help from his good friend Mecca.

The pair is gradually working to grow their business. Right now they are open four days a week and will continue to expand as they can afford to.

Kierniesky prides himself on being smart with money. Bosque Baking is filled with previously used appliances that the pair says do the job just as well.

"When I go to a brand-new shiny restaurant, all I see if six figures of debt," he said.

The pair also built some of their furniture to save money.

Kierniesky and Mecca say business is good. Of course they hope it will get better but are just happy right now doing what they're doing.

"It's a good time" Kierniesky said.

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