Cheryl’s Flour Garden Bakery and Coffee Bar has filled a major void in the Cascade community since opening their doors in August 2019. The delicious baked goods, made-from-scratch lunch options, and variety of coffee and smoothies leaves every customer coming back for more. McAllister Electrical Services is proud to be the lead commercial electrician to help this small business make a big impact in Cascade, Iowa.
This big project had small beginnings for Joel and Cheryl Wood. Cheryl began this business in her home with taking orders for individuals and groups for her infamous scones, cinnamon rolls, and an assortment of other baked goods. Eventually she had enough of a following to turn that small start into a pop-up shop over the past few years at local events.
During this time, Joel and Cheryl continued to plan the bakery and coffee shop they wanted to bring to Cascade. They knew they wanted to honor the history of Downtown Cascade, but finding the right building and then designing a commercial kitchen and restaurant took lots of discussion and research. Together, Cheryl and Joel and their team of contractors scoured the internet, consulted other builders, and researched other building rehabs before their project began in the summer of 2018. They also sought out and won grants like the Catalyst grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority to help this project come to life. One person Cheryl points out as instrumental to the project was her brother Paul, a commercial kitchen designer in Sarasota, Florida. He was able to plan the layout of the kitchen at Cheryl’s and guide her through the electrical and structural needs of the building itself so she could serve the baked goods and meals she envisioned on her menu.
After the planning and securing of grants and funding, Cheryl and her team of contractors could begin demolition of the buildings at the corner of Main and Buchanan Streets. Through the demolition, the team worked methodically to preserve as much of the original structure as possible so it could be repurposed in the new coffee shop and bakery. Doors, beams, siding, tin, and trim, were salvaged so that the new building would “repeat history with history.”
In order to make their dream a reality, the Woods knew they would need an immense amount of electrical help with the historic building, which is why they contacted the trusted professionals at McAllister Electrical Services. When you work with us, you are working with a certified professional commercial electrician to help ensure the wiring, fixtures, and equipment are able to perform at the highest standard while also being efficient. At Cheryl’s Flour Garden, our team upgraded their lot to 3-phase power to handle the new kitchen equipment in an energy-efficient way. We ran wire and conduit, completed finish work on fixtures, and made adjustments once the inspectors came through.
Now that Cheryl’s Flour Garden has been open for several months, Cheryl believes this is the best part of the process and loves having a big enough kitchen to create something that brings a smile to people’s faces. In the future, she hopes to add more historic pieces to the store, industrial lighting, an outdoor patio, and several other features. The Cascade community loves this local shop as well. Cheryl’s Flour Garden’s Facebook page is filled with rave reviews about the delicious food & drinks, atmosphere, and friendly staff.
This work of heart by Joel & Cheryl Wood and lots of historic-preservationists and Main Street-minded folks took years to bring to life, but as many in Cascade can tell you, it’s filled a huge need in the community.
If you’re in need of a commercial electrician, call McAllister Electrical today and see how we can help you with your project!
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