Husband and wife team John and Lynne Kinnersley have baked up a storm of new ideas for their business after moving to Stockton’s Wellington Square.
Blue Corn Bakery reopened this week after relocating from Castlegate Shopping Centre which is earmarked for demolition early next year.
Despite having a busy time dealing with the effects of the pandemic, they decided the move provided the perfect opportunity to expand – and now have almost three times as much space – and a café.
The popular bakery shop, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary later this year, is now located at the top of Wellington Square near the entrance to the car park.
Lynne explained: “Our Stockton shop was closed for four months during the pandemic but the bakery in Norton was able to remain open providing essential products for customers. So we managed to get through it and I’m really pleased and proud we managed to do that without any of our 14 staff losing their jobs.
“A lot of people were avoiding supermarkets and found shops like Blue Corn on their doorstep and I’m delighted that we seem to be keeping the new customers as folk move to smaller independent shops.
“The café will sell all our usual products along with hot food and has been fitted out with air conditioning and a fresh air feed to keep it extra safe for customers.”
Matt Boxall, Centre Manager of Wellington Square and Castlegate, said: “We are truly up and running moving shops from Castlegate to Wellington Square, and Blue Corn Bakery is our first independent business to relocate.
“It is fantastic that people are seeing this as an opportunity to expand and improve and shows that Wellington Square will be a fantastic shopping destination – ready for the future of retail.”
While Lynne is busy in the shop, John and his team will continue to bake through the night, making all of the fresh baked goods, from bread, bread buns and scones to rather a lot of cake!
Lynne said: “It is amazing that we are able to stay in Stockton at such an exciting time in the town centre’s rejuvenation and can welcome back our wonderful regular customers.”
Stockton Borough Council plans to demolish the Castlegate Centre and former Swallow Hotel to make way for a new urban park, performance areas, spaces for young people and new Council buildings – allowing uninterrupted access from the High Street to the River Tees.
Blue Corn will join a growing number of retailers who have worked with the Council to complete moves into Wellington Square.