By Paul Post
His wholesale bread business is so good that Kevin Haux only needs to open his retail shop two days per week.
But it seems to be doing quite well, too, based on the steady stream of customers going in and out.
The Haux Nest Bread store will mark its first anniversary in June, located at 430 Dix Avenue, near Queensbury Avenue (Airport Road).
“I love my wholesale accounts, the consistency, so I don’t see myself getting rid of them,” 26-year-old owner Kevin Haux said. “I see myself expanding on those. But we’re not really set up for wholesale here. Ultimately, I would like to have this place be just for counter space, a retail shop, and have someone invest with me and do the baking elsewhere at a bigger setup.”
The business is named (Haux pronounced like “hawks”) after his grandparents’ summer camp in Bolton Landing.
He started it four years ago in the kitchen of his parents’ home on Chestnut Ridge Road in Queensbury. “I dragged my whole family into it, voluntarily,” Haux said, smiling.
His mom, Lisa Haux, and his sister, Haley Ward, help keep things running smoothly.
Haux Nest specializes in naturally leavened, hearth-style and old world-style breads; crusty crunchy sourdough; brioche-type cinnamon rolls; cookies and muffins; and breakfast sandwiches on brioche buns with a choice of bacon or ham.
A Queensbury High School grad, Haux attended Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., which has a prestigious culinary arts program, but went there to study advertising and became interested in the business side of the food industry.
However, health issues forced him to leave after one semester, so he returned come, enrolled at SUNY Adirondack and began pursuing a newfound passion for baking. “I have ulcerative colitis,” Haux said. “I always tried to cook for myself to stay healthy. I figured if I’m going to eat carbs, sugar and breads I might as well do it myself and make it as healthy as possible.”
“I started baking and cooking for family,” he said. “That turned into doing little catering gigs and to-go meals for friends and family. After a couple of years, I got into sourdough.”
Wholesale accounts are primarily for large hearth-style country white and whole wheat loaves and baguettes, sold to eateries such as Park & Elm in Glens Falls, Saratoga Olive Oil and Hamlet & Ghost in Saratoga Springs.
In addition to the Queensbury retail store, Haux Nest goods may also be purchased at Pure n’ Simple health food store in Glens Falls.
The Dix Avenue retail shop was previously occupied by Deliciously Different cake decorating studio. “Thankfully the infrastructure was set up for a bakery,” Haux said. “I slowly collected ovens, refrigerators and shelving. We’re going in the right direction.”
The Haux Nest Bread store is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday only.