Reiter’s Bakery in Red Bluff

Newlyweds With A Passion For Baking And Hospitality

Many newlyweds spend their honeymoon period figuring out the division of labor around the house, including who will cook and who will clean. Rich and Kassie Reiter did not have that luxury. A month after their wedding, they opened the doors of Reiter’s Bakery in Red Bluff and got right to work, with both serving as certified pastry chefs and cleanup crew. They are together 24-7 and easily spend 19 hours a day to bring pastry perfection to their customers. Rich says a common goal keeps them united. “We aim to offer the kind of hospitality where someone feels better when they walk out the door than they felt when they walked in.”

Rich and Kassie learned the art of hospitality from Professor Steve Mercer at The Culinary Institute of America’s campus in St. Helena; and they often ask themselves “what would Steve do?” Because they both have such a passion for baking and hospitality I assumed they must have met at culinary school. Not quite…they met at Mitchell’s Fitness in Anderson. While dating they discovered they both enjoyed baking and the dream to open multiple bakeries began to materialize. Their culinary training, which put their dream and their relationship to the test, included months-long internships at five-star Nantucket resorts and pastry shops. “It really wasn’t as glamorous as it sounds,” Kassie remarks.

(left to right) Rich and Kassie opened Reiter’s Bakery and were soon joined in the building by Kassie’s parents, Becky and Gary Spurgeon. The Spurgeons work together to operate an embroidery and silkscreening business.

A family endeavor

Rich and Kassie graduated in April 2019 and began to look for locations for their first bakery. Red Bluff came out a winner when they found the old location for Knick’s Family Fun Zone at 830 Main St. The space was quite large but Kassie’s parents expressed interest in sharing the space for their business, Spurgeon’s Embroidery and Silkscreening. This family endeavor is filling the space beautifully. They are planning to provide indoor seating for the bakery soon.

When I asked Gary and Becky Spurgeon about their daughter Kassie’s aptitude for baking, Becky said Kassie began paying more attention to detail in the kitchen as she got older. Becky might eyeball the frosting ingredients and dump them into the mixer all at once, while Kassie believes in the importance of following specific procedures. Kassie admits to being passionate about details, and says that trait might be a requirement for successful pastry chefs. Pairing her eye for detail with Rich’s eye for constructive criticism sounds like a recipe for a difficult marriage, but they have each found their specialty. Rich prefers making chocolates while Kassie most often practices the art of lamination while making croissants and other flaky delights.

Coffees and pastries made with European style

Rich and Kassie make everything by hand without the usual big machinery you find at bakeries. Their coffees and pastries are all made with classic European style and technique. Reiter’s Bakery pairs beautifully with nearby A&R Custom Butchering where they buy ingredients for their savory offerings. A sandwich at A & R with dessert at Reiter’s is a wonderful lunchtime date idea.

Kassie’s parents started their embroidery business from their home in Cottonwood in 2007 and soon branched out into silk screening. Until recently they ran their business while working other jobs and this is new for them to be working together all day long. It is almost like being newlyweds themselves and it just goes to show that the secret to a good marriage always involves flexibility.

Two family businesses make a friendly atmosphere

It is very heartwarming to see a family bringing two great businesses to downtown Red Bluff and working together under one roof. Gary and Becky have noticed the large early morning pastry crowd so they may be opening their counter earlier in the morning as well. The hospitality of the whole family gives the building a very friendly atmosphere. Stop by during the holidays and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Rich and Kassie will be adding many special Christmastime treats to their display. Don’t be surprised if the newlyweds sprout pointy ears — adding even more hours to their long workdays may upgrade these two pastry chefs to the ranks of Santa’s finest.