Gluten-Free Vegan Bakery, Mindful Baking, to Open Brick-and-Mortar in Chicago

Mindful Baking, a Ravenswood vegan bakery and cafe, is set to open a brick-and-mortar location in Portage Park in Northwest Chicago by the end of the year. Owned by trained pastry chef Diane Mejia, the gluten-free vegan bakery offers a variety of delicious treats such as brownies, muffins, breads, donuts, and cupcakes. Mejia also creates custom cakes, seasonal treats like pies and tiramisu cheesecake, and savory options using ingredients like coconut sugar and psyllium husk.

The bakery currently sells its treats at Chicago farmers markets, local retailers, on DoorDash, and through virtual vegan stores like Vegan Essentials. In addition to offering its own products, Mindful Baking will sell Italian ice from the former occupant of the retail space and serve coffee drinks made using products from Evanston-local Reprise Coffee Roasters. The bakery will launch a Kickstarter campaign for community support leading up to their early December opening at 5035 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60641.