Photo: Kim Tunnicliffe (WBZ NewsRadio)
GRAFTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Chuck Brown of Grafton needed to keep himself busy as he stayed at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, so he started to bake bread.
The retired school principal enjoyed his newfound hobby so much that he turned it into a brick-and-mortar business called Bread Guy Breads on Worcester Street, and business is booming.
"We used to make 50 or 60 loaves a day, now we make 150 to 300," Brown told WBZ NewsRadio.
Open Tuesdays through Saturdays, the store closes early on Wednesdays and Thursdays so Brown and his team can sell their bread at local farmers markets.
"We do anywhere from 60 to 100 customers a day. When we do the markets, we do almost 200," Brown said.
Brown has six part-time employees helping him bake classic favorites like pumpernickel rye, sourdough, and cinnamon rolls, as well as specialty breads such as cranberry walnut, honey chocolate sourdough, and garlic cheddar.
The store is also part of the Grafton Achieving Independence (GAIN) program, which gives special needs students internships where they learn vocational and life skills.
"I have someone to help me in the back, I have kids that make boxes, kids that work the register," said Brown. "I’m back in education, in a way, and I make bread. I got a little bit of everything."
WBZ's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.
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