Crumble Coffee and Bakery opens

Scott Reynolds said he always wanted to open a coffee shop. So he put his dream into action and opened Crumble Coffee and Bakery with co-owner Laura Noelle.

Crumble Coffee and Bakery, which opened Sept. 25 at 1509 S. Piazza Drive on the east side of Bloomington, is focused on being both a great bakery and a great coffee shop, Reynolds said.

“It seems like most places are either a coffee shop primarily, and then they maybe have a few things just for people who want to snack, or they’re primarily a bakery that offers a pot of coffee for people who might want a coffee to go. But we really try to do both,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said the new bakery offers any kind of espresso drink imaginable and has at least two different kinds of brewed coffees that rotate daily. The bakery also provides a variety of goods, including cookies, muffins, brownies, fruit bars and quiches.

He said they are eventually going to try and have sandwiches and soup.

The interior features an open kitchen, which Reynolds said he envisioned for people to smell the baking and see what was happening.

All of the baked goods served at Crumble Coffee and Bakery are homemade by Noelle, who is constantly trying new recipes, making new items and old favorites, Reynolds said.

“I think what sets us apart more than any other thing is that we do all of the baking and the making of the food right here,” Reynolds said. “We’re bringing in all of the ingredients and doing everything from scratch, and we’re combining that with really, really, really good coffee.”

Aside from baking, Reynolds said one of the other things they’ve focused on is getting to know their customers.

“We really value the chance to get to know people,” Reynolds said. “Building a community, more than just running a business, is really important to us.”

Reynolds said they were primarily baking with the idea people would want to purchase a cookie with their coffee, but people have been ordering more baked goods than expected. However, Reynolds said the jump in business has been great.

“Business has been better than expected so far, and we’re just really happy that people are finding us and coming in here,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said they see themselves as a distinct alternative to other options in town .

“We’re not right next to campus, so we’re not kind of in the midst of all the craziness and the busyness,” Reynolds said. “So we’re a little bit more tucked away, which makes us a little cozier, but at the same time we’re a local option and we use locally roasted coffee and we make all our stuff here.”

Follow reporter Alli Friedman on Twitter @afreedz.