By Claudia Loucks
Geneseeo Current
Jerrod and Andrea Minnaert care about their community and they want to see it grow and offer “something for everyone.”
The couple recently launched their third Geneseo business. The Bakery, at 726 South Oakwood, is a cozy and comfortable establishment with both indoor and outdoor seating.
The menu includes a full service coffee bar and flavored energy drinks, in addition to a variety of fresh and flavorful breakfast items, a medley of lunch choices, and that’s not all, there’s also an assortment of tempting and tasty bakery treats (see photos).
Kitchen hours at The Bakery are from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 2 pm. on Saturday. Bakery items are available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Minnaert couple said hours may be expanded at The Bakery, but that’s “still in the experimental phase. We did expand when school was back in session, to give parents a new option when picking up those kids who oftentimes are ready for an after-school snack.”
Andrea and Jerrod Minnaert are shown in front of the sign that is posted at the entrance of The Bakery, located at 726 South Oakwood in Geneseo. The Bakery is the third business the couple has opened in Geneseo. Photo by Claudia Loucks
The Minnaert couple also owns and operates Raelyn’s at 217 North State St. Geneseo, and the Geneseo Brewing Company (GBC) at 102 South State St., Geneseo.
When asked how they came up with the idea for The Bakery and what to serve, they answered, “We felt Geneseo was in need of a full service bakery. We had been many years without one in community.”
The menu at The Bakery offers more than “baked items,” and the couple said, “We added a few other items to try to appeal to our customers in a variety of ways.”
When asked about launching a third business in Geneseo, Jerrod Minnaert said his wife, Andrea, has worked in the Quad City area for many years and “when she would come home to Geneseo, we felt we had to drive back to the QCA to find places to dine and experience.. We wanted to create something in our own town like we were looking for elsewhere, and something we hoped others would enjoy as well. Geneseo is an amazing place to live and raise children, We want our community to be a place where people want to stay, and we want to offer options for them to enjoy right here in our own backyard.”
Jerrod and Andrea Minnaert opened Raelyn’s in 2011. The pub and eatery “has the largest selection of beers on tap in town,” the couple said. “And we are unique in the fact that we offer many menu items that are made from scratch.”
Geneseo Brewing Company, which opened its doors in 2014, offers a wide selection of specialty beers made in-house – (Geneseo Blonde, Yep Yet IPA, Vikings Amber, Peanut Butter, porter and Oktoberfest are some of the staples)
GBC also offers what the Minnaert’s consider “a non-traditional food menu.”
In addition to the hours and efforts the couple puts into their local businesses, they both have other jobs….Jerrod farms and Andrea works full time for the Federal Government at the Rock Island Arsenal.