Owensboro is getting a new bakery. And if you’ve ever eaten at Niko’s Italian Cuisine, then you will appreciate what this business is putting out next.
Niko’s Bakery and Cafe will be taking their business to the building where Fantastic Sams was formerly located, at 601 Emory Drive in Wesleyan Park Plaza. Niko’s Bakery and Cafe, already known for its top-of-the-line pastries, breads and desserts served at The Owensboro Regional Farmers Market, will soon have a storefront.
Niko’s Bakery and Cafe will be run by owners Lola Nousiadis and her son Christo Nousiadis, along with Chef Matt Weafer. Weafer has been working for the owners of Niko’s Italian Cuisine since February 2018, when he was hired to open a bakery.
“I worked in (Niko’s) kitchen 13 or 14 years ago,” said Weafer. “My brother is the head chef at their restaurant now. He and I have always wanted to work together.”
Now, Weafer is getting the chance to do what all great chefs love doing — he gets to be creative with recipes while also offering something unique to a growing city that, so far, has embraced the chef’s ideas.
“At the Farmers Market, I sell upwards of 1,000 pastries some Saturdays,” said Weafer. “It almost feels like a movie, like a stock market scene. At 8 a.m., everyone is lined up at our stand.”
Niko’s Bakery and Cafe will offer traditional European and Greek artisan breads, croissants, desserts and pastries as well as breakfast and lunch. The menu will feature fast and casual, traditional Greek dishes, sandwiches, soups, salads, Greek yogurts, espresso drinks, and smoothies.
The success at the Owensboro Regional Farmers Market has set a high bar for Niko’s Bakery and Cafe, and it’s made Weafer that much more ready to move forward with the new location.
“We were able to give our customers their taste of Niko’s at our summer-long soft opening,” said Weafer.
Weafer expects the storefront will bring at least four times the business as the farmers market.
The Niko’s owners and Weafer hope to open before Thanksgiving.
