December 27, 2025 – West Bend, WI – A familiar space on W. Washington Street is welcoming a new chapter, blending handmade goods, coffee and memories of Saturday mornings past.
Creative Brews is opening in the former Hankerson’s Bakery location, 2107 W. Washington Street in West Bend, is a place that holds deep meaning for co-owner Lynn Eldridge.
“I had a dream of a coffee shop and memories of coming to Hankerson’s with my dad to get donuts and bakery on Saturday mornings,” Eldridge said. “So, when this place opened up, it just kind of felt right. And so here we are.”
Eldridge and co-owner Jamie Seling are launching Creative Brews as a multi-vendor marketplace and coffee shop, with a strong focus on supporting local makers. At opening, the store features close to 35 vendors, with plans to grow significantly.
“We are starting with lots of local vendors,” Eldridge said. “We have close to 35. A few more need to get stocked, but people are coming to me every single day. It’s really exciting to be able to help other small businesses out in the community.”
The lineup includes local jewelry makers, crocheters, home décor artists, painters and woodworkers, with more on the way. Eldridge said whiskey barrel products are expected soon, and they are actively seeking food-based vendors.
“We’re hopeful to find maybe some maple syrup, some other food vendors,” she said. “If anybody out there is interested in renting out a kitchen for their sourdough business, let us know.”
Seling, who manages the Aldi store in Hartford and has a long background in retail merchandising, said choosing the Hankerson’s location was ultimately an easy decision.
“We looked at another one, but in talking about it, I knew it meant a lot to Lynn,” Seling said. “It was kind of a no-brainer just to move forward with it, because she’s passionate about it and that shows in what she’s doing here.”
While Seling grew up in Hartford and remembers Granddad’s Bakery, she said the mix of retail, coffee and future bakery offerings makes Creative Brews stand out.
“I’ve not seen a place like this in West Bend,” Seling said. “To be in a community that doesn’t yet have something like this is really exciting because I feel like we can make it really successful for everybody.”
In addition to shopping, customers can grab coffee, use free Wi-Fi and sit to work, meet or chat. Creative Brews serves Door County Coffee, a choice that was intentional.
“We chose Door County Coffee because it is female-owned and veteran-owned, and we are as well,” Eldridge said. “My husband is a vet, so that was really important to the two of us to honor that.”
A bakery case is part of the plan, though Eldridge said that piece will roll out gradually.
“I don’t have a set bakery menu yet,” she said. “Hopefully for opening I will have some homemade scones and cookies and muffins.”
Looking ahead, the owners have transformed the former walk-in cooler into a classroom space that will be available after the first of the year.
“People can rent it for meetings,” Eldridge said. “We can do painting classes, crocheting classes, woodworking, sewing, all kinds of things.”
Creative Brews also includes a licensed kitchen that can be rented by local food entrepreneurs outside of store hours, giving bakers a compliant space to expand their businesses.
“Now they have a place to do it and grow their own personal business,” Eldridge said.
Creative Brews hours are Monday through Wednesday from 7 a.m. to noon, Thursday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
September 23, 2025 — West Bend, WI – It was July 10, 2024, when Hankerson’s Country Oven Bakery, a long-time staple in West Bend, WI, announced it was closing. The post on social media said, “it was a tough decision” and for the community it was like a punch to the gut.
Now comes word there will be new life for the location as renovations are underway at 2107 W. Washington Street in West Bend, WI, by American Construction Services.
The building is being transformed into Creative Brews, a coffee shop and artisan marketplace.
The project will give the well-known space a modern update while honoring its history as a local gathering spot.
Renovation highlights designed by American Architectural Group include:
Once complete, Creative Brews will serve as both a cozy coffee shop and a showcase for local crafts, turning the long-closed bakery into a thriving destination once again.
Neighbors will remember how Hankerson’s grew a dedicated following as many made morning breakfast a ritual, along with picking up fresh donuts on Saturday morning to ordering cakes for birthdays or graduations.
Hankerson’s got its start downtown at 130 N. Main St. At the time, they were one of three downtown bakeries that included Bauer’s at 227 N. Main and City Bakery, 326 N. Main St.
What is your favorite memory of Hankerson’s? Many who have chimed in in the past talk about the awesome hard rolls, the best country breakfast with homemade strawberry jam, and bucket bread.
Hankerson’s was sold to Ryan Hankerson in September 2018.
The landmark sign was removed May 17, 2025. Click HERE to read the story.
Wishing you, Lynn , and Jamie much good luck and blessings on your new venture. We were hoping to get there on Sunday, but illness held us back. (We only want to spread good things…not the flu.).