Like many entrepreneurs, Galion resident Brian Foley, of Brian’s Artisan Bakery (formerly Cakes by Brian), wanted to give something back to the community. Nearly three years after launching his business, he did just that when he founded the Cakes by Brian Foundation earlier this year.
The Cakes by Brian Foundation, Foley noted, partnered with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to help terminally ill children. “We’re just like Make-A-Wish; we grant wishes to terminally ill children,” he said.
A portion of Foley’s sales from Brian’s Artisan Bakery goes to the Cakes by Brian Foundation, but he noted that local residents could help with a small donation.
If every person in a 45-mile area donated 25 cents per month, Foley added, the foundation could conceivably see a six-figure amount. “You could do more; you could do less. But if you just did that amount on a monthly average, we could maintain a six-figure amount in our foundation’s account and we would be able to send approximately 10 to 12 children on their last wish,” he said.
Foley said he was inspired to start the foundation after one of his own children was ill. “My youngest daughter was always sick, and after excluding a few big diseases, I wanted to help out other children,” he said.
Brian’s Artisan Bakery is a new branding of an old favorite, Cakes by Brian. Foley said that after naming the business, people often assumed he only made cakes, thus the name change.
“We have about 25 different flavored artisan breads on the menu,” said Foley. “We can go from simple white to a green tea multi-seed, healthy bread.”
Foley said he also offers no-salt breads, as well as items for diabetics and even gluten-free baked goods.
Never fear, Brian’s Artisan Bakery still does cakes. “If you’ve ever seen the ‘Cake Boss,’ those are the kind of cakes we do – very off-the-wall theme cakes. We do regular cakes, as well, but the theme cakes are really what people want because there’s no one in the area that does what we do.”
Foley said if you can think of it, he can do it.
One recipe, the regular Italian bread, is an old family recipe, he said, but the rest are all his own creation. Foley stands behind each one of those creations with a guarantee. “Because our flavors are so different, if you buy a bread and you truly don’t like it, you call me on the phone and I will replace it with something else, no questions asked,” he said.
When asked where he sees Brian’s Artisan Bakery in five years, Foley noted that within the next two years he’d like to find an investor that would be willing to help the business expand into a full-scale commercial bakery.
Foley noted that he has nearly 20 years of experience in restaurant management, which has helped him manage his bakery, and would transfer well to a commercial endeavor.
Approved by the Crawford County Health Department as well as the Department of Agriculture, Brian’s Artisan Bakery operates under the “Cottage Food” umbrella. His goods are available at the new Galion Farmer’s Market, as well as the Bucyrus Farmers’ Market and the Saturday market at Alta Greenhouse in Mansfield. He also does special orders via his Facebook page or by phone at 419-777-7002.
Foley noted that delivery is available, and minimum orders within the Galion area have no delivery fee.
Donations to the Cakes by Brian Foundation may be made via phone at 614-207-0670, at GoFundMe.com, or at U.S. Bank, 1 Public Square, Galion.
