The Ground Floor: Cedar Rapids physical therapist tries his hand at baking

Video by Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette.

Jerry Gillon didn't start baking bread until about 10 years ago.

And he learned how through trial and error, reading about different bread making techniques and talking to bakers. This past fall, he opened Betty and Bobo's Better Breads as an anchor merchant in NewBo City Market.

Although Gillon may be a relative newcomer to baking, he has a business background as an owner of a physical-therapy business. He sold his interest within the past two years, but NewBo Market's hours of operation give him the flexibility to continue to work part-time as a therapist.

Gillon's interest in opening his own bakery developed as he and his wife undertook a series of walking tours through Europe. They hiked up to 20 miles a day from one small village to the next, and encountered many bakeries along the way. They even spent the night in one family-owned bakery.

“I saw the importance of the bakery to the community it was in,” Gillon said. “I saw the quality of their products, how much bread they made, and observed the techniques they used for making large quantities of bread.”

When NewBo Market was still in the development stage, Gillon attended an open house for potential merchants.

“I thought, you know, I can probably do this,” he recalled.

He spent time working with a baker in Madison, Wis., before deciding he was capable of opening his own operation. He then was selected to be one of the market's anchor merchants.

One of the market's selection criteria gave a preference to merchants who were committed to providing fresh food made using healthy, local ingredients. Gillon uses locally sourced whole grains he grinds himself.

“I'm amazed at how good bread tastes when it's made using freshly ground wheat,” he said.

While Gillon has no plans for a large-scale wholesale operation, he offers some breads at other area markets and restaurants on a limited basis. All varieties can be preordered on the bakery's website for pickup during NewBo Market hours.

Gillon continues to add new varieties to his inventory based on customer suggestions. He sold Irish soda bread around St. Patrick's Day, for example, after a number of customers asked about it.

“Feedback is very important, both positive and negative,” he said. “Tell us what we can do better and what you would like to see.”

• Owner: Jerry Gillon

• Company: Betty and Bobo's Better Breads
• Address: 1100 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids
• Phone: (319) 200-4008
• Website: bettyandbobs.com

Know a company in business for less than a year that would make a great story for “The Ground Floor”? Contact business editor Michael Chevy Castranova at michael.castranova@sourcemedia.net