From employee to owner: Catalina Jimenez acquires Lake Chelan Artisan Bakery

CHELAN – In 2013, Catalina Jimenez started working for Lindsay Evans at Lake Chelan Bakery and just five years later, Jimenez has become the new owner of the bakery.

Jimenez comes from an immigrant Mexican family who works in the fields. When she arrived to Chelan from Mexico 20 years ago, she decided she didn’t want to work in the fields. Without knowing English, Jimenez applied to work at the Red Apple, where she worked for 10 years before becoming an employee for Evans.

Last summer, Evans assigned Jimenez as the store manager for Lake Chelan Bakery, as she realized she was spending too much time in town running the store.
Evans commute to work consisted of about three hours said Jimenez. Soon Evans came to the conclusion of selling the business. As a longtime employee, Evans had Jimenez in mind to sell the business to.

“She offered it to me, she said I had a lot of time working here and knew a lot,” said Jimenez.

Without doubts Jimenez went on and accepted Evan’s offer. “It’s a good business, I know how to manage it, it has a great reputation and being the owner has its advantages,” Jimenez explained.

Jimenez became the official owner of Lake Chelan Bakery on Jan. 1 and she says there has not been a lot changes now that she is the owner.

“Basically the only changes are that I am here more and on top of that I have to deal with office work,” she says. The rest of the work she is already familiar with since she was already running the store under Evans management.

Jimenez is not only in charge of doing just one thing, she explains that she fills in the gaps when needed. She, however, does prefer being in the back, looking out and making sure everything is well done.

The community has already noticed the recent change of ownership and has been nothing but supportive towards Jimenez. “They have accepted me, very well … I’ve had a great relationship with the customers even before it was mine,” said Jimenez.

Jimenez is working and planning on adding new items to the bakery. For example she mentioned the possibility of incorporating a tres leches cake.

In terms of beverages, Jimenez has already added a Mexican Mocha to the menu. “During the summer we will be making Italian sodas and Matcha lattes, Matcha teas,” she said.

Lake Chelan Bakery employs four others, in both part-time and full-time positions. One of the employees is Jimenez’s sister, who is always looking out for her, she says. During the weekends, Jimenez brings her 14 and 17 year olds to the business to help her with washing dishes.

“I love food, I do not see this so much as a job, I really love it. Sometimes when I am not here I think about the bakery, even if I am not working I want to be here,” said Jimenez.

Soon, Lake Chelan Bakery’s bread will be available to purchase at the Chelan IGA Market. Bear Foods is another local store that currently sells the bread. Jimenez will continue to have talks with other local stores that way she can sell more Lake Chelan Bakery’s products.

Jimenez shared her goals, “I want every year to be better than the previous year, every year our goal will be to have the business grow a little … instead of losing of losing money we want to see that we’ve made money even if it is one penny.”

She would also like to have a bigger space for the bakery and for the customers to enjoy, however, that will come with time.

At the moment, Jimenez will continue to open the bakery Monday – Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays. Prices remain the same.
To keep up with Lake Chelan Bakery follow them on Instagram and on Facebook under Lake Chelan Artisan Bakery.

Lake Chelan Artisan Bakery is located, 246 W. Manson Hwy 150, Chelan.  www.lakechelanbakery.com/, (509) 682-2253.