A young baker’s dream to open her own bakery one day has finally come true with the opening of Kirshenbaum Baking Co. in downtown Westfield. A bright new addition to the town’s lively ambience, this small business provides a treat for all people to enjoy.

As I walked inside the bakery on a Saturday afternoon in February, I was greeted with warm smiles from the workers there and was in awe of the aesthetic look the place had. Inside, patterned walls with earthly tones reached the ceiling as tables filled the center, waiting for new customers to come. In one corner of the bakery was a cozy setup with booth seating surrounding a marble table; it was the most ideal spot for a late afternoon coffee and pastry.

In the front stood a large case full of the most delicious pastries you’ve ever seen. I chose a strawberry rhubarb pastry, while my best friend decided to go with a chocolate marshmallow donut.

Owner of Kirshenbaum Baking Co., Jeff Kirshenbaum, decided to open the bakery in Westfield alongside his wife, Uyen Kirshenbaum, when the opportunity opened up. They had their official opening day on September 28, 2022, and finally joined the ranks of small businesses in the Westfield community. Furthermore, Jeff’s skills in hospitality along with Uyen’s various culinary experiences made for the perfect team to be running their bakery.

Uyen has been a pastry chef for over 20 years in a variety of places. She was trained in Paris at a culinary school and worked in France before moving to Las Vegas, where she was able to utilize her skills as a pastry cook and baker. Uyen quickly became executive pastry chef for a two-star Michelin restaurant, Guy Savoy,  in Las Vegas before moving to Los Angeles to work for a restaurant there. Her husband, Jeff, has also had experience working in restaurants for many years before starting their own business.

The couple started their first business during the pandemic, and it was an online cookie business where they shipped cookies nationwide. Now, it has grown to what is known as Kirshenbaum Baking Co., which offers more than just cookies; at this bakery you can find many sweet treats like donuts, croissants and other pastries.

“The reason my wife and I like the hospitality industry is because we like to have an impact on people’s lives on a daily basis,” Jeff Kirshenbaum said. Whether it’s what they’re eating or drinking, or just being able to see the reactions of people trying my wife’s food…it’s really rewarding. And the interaction that we get to have with our guests every day is really fun to see along with the relationships we make…and just being a part of the community.” 

A piece of advice that Jeff gives to anyone looking to open their own business is to really understand every aspect of their industry. For example, Jeff recalls how he first worked in waiting tables and prepping food before he became a business owner.

“As a business owner, you really need to understand every inch and quarter of your business,” Jeff Kirshenbaum said.

You can find Kirshenbaum Baking Co.’s very own cookie collection on their website at www.kbcbakery.com.

“We hope to be able to provide some of our baked items to businesses where they can sell them to their customers,” Jeff Kirshenbaum said. “But we just really want to continue to grow our business and be a bigger part of the communities in the surrounding areas.”

I give Kirshenbaum Baking Co. six stars.