The bakery and fine-foods restaurant Bakerzin has opened its first location in the United States at 940 E. University Blvd., where Chicken Daddy’s once stood.
Specializing in sweet treats such as chocolate Ǹclairs and shortcake, as well as lunch and dinner favorites like penne pasta, Bakerzin has made it through its first week of business, much to the delight of students with a sweet tooth.
“”It’s like Candyland,”” Caroline Schiller, a French junior , said with a laugh while coming out of the restaurant. “”I know that I’m not going to be able to resist it because it’s so close to campus.””
Bakerzin manager Winnie Wang has been making negotiations regarding the expansion of the Singapore-based bakery to Tucson for about two years, said Jane McCollum, general manager of the Marshall Foundation, which owns Main Gate Square.
Wang declined to be interviewed.
“”She approached us when we were starting to lease a building at Park and University, and bought an existing business on University in order to be on our street,”” McCollum said.
McCollum said she thinks the store will add diversity to Main Gate Square.
“”I think it will attract a different customer,”” McCollum said.. “”The store itself is very forward-thinking, and we don’t have a bakery yet on the street.””
While Bakerzin is located on University Blvd., its product selection and upscale in-store aesthetics suggest its target audience is not entirely UA students.
“”Hopefully, the store’s owner will define store hours to appeal to the UApresents audience who gets out of plays and are searching for a store of fine foods,”” McCollum said.
Simply because the store is so new, many students have not yet had the chance to try Bakerzin.
“”I haven’t been yet, but I’m pretty excited to check it out,”” said Noah Pepper, an ecology and evolutionary biology senior. “”It looks really nice from the street, and it’s something different that we don’t have on University.””
Like many stores that have come before it, only time will tell if Bakerzin has a permanent home on University Blvd. Until then, oui oui, pass the tiramisu.
