New bakery opens Saturday

Good things--REALLY good things--come to those who wait! And, the wait is over.

Du Quoin's new bakery--Baked by Gene--opens at 6 a.m. this Saturday at 22 North Division Street in downtown Du Quoin. It won't be hard to find. Just look for the line.

The hours are 6 a.m. until noon Monday through Saturday. Owners Gene Krone and Scott Latta say they may adjust those hours depending upon what Du Quoin wants.

It is in a beautifully renovated storefront that years ago was home to Pursell Electric and decades ago the Daily family grocery.

You walk in the front door and see the four kinds of cinnamon rolls--original, caramel, chocolate and pumpkin--and you start eating with your eyes.

Then there's the fresh Focaccia bread, the French bread and the rustic bread. And for the upcoming Labor Day grilling weekend homemade hamburger buns.

Chocolate chip cookies to die for and there's more heaven to be had in the assortment of brownie recipes. The partners call their upstairs apartment home and if you need a sweet fix at 9 p.m. at night and you see a light on, just ring the doorbell.

"We are here to serve Du Quoin," says Krone. "We are not here to take away anybody's business."

The shop will bake custom orders, design an award-winning birthday or wedding cake for you, cater your reception or club meeting with what Facebook comments are already calling "awesome" and "amazing" offerings.

Everything is well-proportioned with a rich taste you would have to walk back in time to Geiger's Bakery to find.

There is already dialogue with some of the local restaurants to provide fresh breads. "If there is something you want and we think we can create it--just ask," says Krone.

Both men have huge culinary skills, but Krone admits to being more creative and Latta admits to a keen business sense, which comes from his background in business and banking.

Their new 800 sq. ft. kitchen last week passed health and fire safety inspections with flying colors and you can watch them work through a pass-through window from the kitchen to the front counter.

A lot of the amenities in the shop have been hand-crafted recycling projects from wood and cabinetry in the original building. They call it "repurposing" and it has saved them money.

The traffic jam on Division Street starts this Saturday. Prepare to be impressed.

You can find them on Facebook or call them at 618-571-5833.