On September 20, bread bakers Root Baking Co. will open their headquarters in the Central Food Hall at Ponce City Market, the historic mixed-use community hub in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. Formerly located in Charleston, South Carolina, Root Baking Co. was founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife duo Chris Wilkins and Nicole Lewis. Their bakery and cafe at Ponce City Market will offer Root Baking Co.’s beloved freshly baked breads in addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner fare. The bakery is known for milling Southern, heirloom grains in-house, sourced from the likes of Anson Mills, Geechie Boy Mill and more.

Root Baking Co. is on the second floor of Ponce City Market next to The Mercury. The design of the bakery highlights the building’s historic and industrial aesthetic, featuring a handmade mill and glass windows for visitors to watch the milling, fermenting, shaping, and baking process. 

There will be a daily menu for breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday, followed by happy hour and dinner, with brunch all day on Sundays. Menus will change often, and guests can expect daily breads and pastries in Root Baking Co.’s case alongside dishes like Tahini & Turmeric Seed Granola with Yogurt and Fruit for breakfast and Za’atar Roasted Chicken with Harissa Pickled Carrots, Toum, Tarator and A Lot of Herbs on Sorghum Bread at lunch. Root Baking Co. also plans to bring in chefs from around the South to host dinner pop-ups throughout the year.

Root Baking Co. is a nationally renowned bakery that was recognized among “The Best Bread Bakeries in the South” by USA Today in 2017. The bakery has also appeared in Southern Living and on Zagat’s “30 Under 30” Charleston list.