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Baker Miller Expanding to Ravenswood Manor With 'General Store' in the Fall

By Patty Wetli | August 17, 2015 6:05am
 Picture Baker Miller General here, set to open by mid-October just off the Francisco Brown Line stop.
Picture Baker Miller General here, set to open by mid-October just off the Francisco Brown Line stop.
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DNAinfo/Patty Wetli

RAVENSWOOD MANOR — Less than a year after opening Baker Miller Bakery & Millhouse in Lincoln Square, Dave and Megan Miller have announced they're expanding into Ravenswood Manor, this time with a "general store."

Teased on social media over the weekend and confirmed by Dave Miller, the couple's new venture, to be called Baker Miller General, is scheduled to open by mid-October at 4642 N. Francisco Ave. The storefront, just steps from the Francisco Brown Line station, previously housed the Peterson Garden Project's Learning Center.

"We've spent a lot of time in the neighborhood because a lot of our friends live there, and we've realized how limited food options are right there," Dave Miller told DNAinfo Chicago via email.

"There's First Slice [Pie Cafe], who we love, but no convenience stores, grocery or other restaurants," he said.

Drawing inspiration from Bi-Rite and Local Mission markets in San Francisco, the Millers envision their general store as a place to buy fresh produce, dairy and meat; bulk grains from Baker Miller Flour & Grain; house-made food items like jams, granola and ice cream, to name a few; fresh flowers; and natural cleaning products and paper goods.

A hot food bar will be available for breakfast, lunch and dinner to go.

"We plan to have a small menu that changes each day, with a few staple items that remain constant," Miller said. "We will have fresh steamed grains, oatmeal, soup, etc., each day, matching the season."

Dave and Megan Miller chatted on a DNAinfo podcast last month:

Folks can grab coffee on their way to or from the train, but one thing Baker Miller General won't offer: pie.

"Our friends next door already specialize in that," Miller said. "We've been very careful to make sure people know that we're going to stay supportive of First Slice and their contributions to the neighborhood and city."

To ensure that neighbors of all incomes can shop at Baker Miller General, the store will stock a mix of high- to low-priced items.

"We've also already begun the process of applying to take food stamps so that everyone can afford what we offer," Miller said.

Though the Millers have a strong sense of what they want their general store to be, they're also open to suggestions from their new neighbors.

People can write down requests for items they'd like the store to carry, and slip their ideas through the shop's mail slot, Miller said.

"We'll definitely build our selection around requests," he said.

 

Overgrown currently but our large patio and garage on new space will be a base for growing herbs, lettuces etc

A photo posted by Baker | Miller (@bakermillerchi) on

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