JulieAnne’s Bakery & Café Brings Fresh Pastries, Community Spirit to Burlington

Fall is upon us, the winter season is coming, and nothing is more perfect in these chilly months than watching the multicolored leaves pop up along the skyline, feeling the crisp breeze in the air, and sipping on your favorite festive drink. But, how could you enjoy all these things without a cozy dessert in hand to satisfy your sweet tooth? Maybe you want to nibble on a pumpkin muffin, chocolate chip cookie, or your favorite flavored pie? Well, JulieAnne’s Bakery and Cafe, opening soon in Burlington's Shoppes at Simonds, is the missing piece to this perfect comfort weather equation. 

Julie Lewis, the creator of JulieAnne’s Bakery and Cafe, said baking has always been a passion of hers. Some of her fondest memories are of being in her mom’s kitchen, recreating an assortment of recipes. And her love for the craft didn’t stop there. She went on to attend the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts from 2007 to 2008, and said since then she has worked “mainly in the culinary field.” Lewis worked 5 years at the Wegmans in Burlington, spending three as the Bakery Manager, then took a pivot when COVID hit in 2020. 

That’s when she started working for People Helping People, the nonprofit organization that administers Burlington's food pantry as Pantry Manager. “It kind of combined my passion for food management with helping others in need," Lewis said. "I’ve volunteered for People Helping People running their Thanksgiving program for many, many years, so it was great and it helped me plug into the community and get to know a lot of people in town, and have a true appreciation for what a great town Burlington is.”

Lewis said opening a bakery has been a dream of hers for over twenty years, but she is glad she waited until now to officially bring it to life, taking the time to build up the years of experience necessary for success Plus, Lewis said, Burlington is the perfect place to make this dream a reality, as the town is “really supportive of its small businesses.”

Although there have been a few obstacles throughout this journey, Lewis said she feels prepared and motivated to bring customers "positive experiences” when they walk through the door at JulieAnne’s. 

In addition to being a spot where community members can indulge in a “beautiful display of pastries that are fresh every day,” including a wide variety of fresh-baked pastries and Lewis’s own homemade apple pies, cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip cookies, allergy-friendly goods, and more, she said she hopes JulieAnne’s will be a welcoming gathering place for the community.

“I want it to be a place for people to come meet their friends, bring their kids, meet a business partner, have meetings,” said Lewis. “The dining room space is going to lend itself well for people to come and meet. There’ll be a community bulletin board, and I want it to be a place for people to come and gather.” 

“I want to show who I am, the quality I stand for, the wonderful, warm customer service that I want to present,” Lewis said, “and I just want people to get familiar with that and hopefully start visiting me regularly at the shop.”

As the cold months start to settle in, Burlington residents can look forward to making JulieAnne’s their new cozy spot. With a cup of Atomic Coffee in hand, Sunday Afternoon Tea, and your favorite sweet treat, get ready to enjoy this new offering with the community.

Stay tuned for an official opening date.