Baked by Gene: Nothing fried at new bakery coming to downtown Du Quoin

After Gene Krone began walking up and down Main Street last Saturday handing out samples of his homemade cinnamon rolls, Facebook began lighting up with the news that a new bakery is coming to downtown Du Quoin.

Baked by Gene will be the name of "nothing fried" bakery coming to 22 North Division Street, across the street from the Kurt Harris law offices.

Krone grew up in Du Quoin, has lived in Florida for the past 14 years, but returns to help his mother get through some health issues that are now under control.

"I had a home bakery down in Florida. It was part of the cottage food program and you could bake and sell so much a year," he said.

For now, he will bake at home and bring his baked bread, dinner rolls, cinnamon roll, danish, cupcakes and homemade pies and cakes down to his new storefront while he renovates the building that years ago was home to Daily's Grocery.

"I gave out samples of my cinnamon buns last Saturday," Krone said. "I gave out seven dozen."

"This Saturday I plan to bring some of my pumpkin and apple butter buns to sell," he said.

"I make all of my own butter creams and fondants," he said.

"I will be taking cake orders, but it may be the first of the year before everything is done in this building. We just closed on the purchase Sept. 6."

"I don't want to take anything away from the bakery we already have. That isn't what this is about," he said.

You can find out more about "Baked by Gene" on Facebook.