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Contra Costa Marketplace - Aug 2017

RESTAURANT REVIEW Putting finishing touches on carrot cakes AUGUST 2017 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM 31 Whole Foods Display University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School who formerly worked as a financier on Wall Street. Years later, he moved to Berkeley and opened restaurants in three bay area locations. Although two of these are now closed, the Red Tractor Café in Dublin is still going strong after over twenty years. Andrew assessed the state of the business and agreed to help shepherd the sale. As the search for a buyer ensued, Andrew spent a considerable amount of time at the bakery listening to the employees’ stories about how important it was that they had been given a second chance, and how working at Rubicon Bakery had literally changed their lives. As he listened to their stories, he fell in love with the mission of the bakery and ultimately decided to buy the bakery himself! And that was the beginning of a beautiful relationship! Rubicon Bakery—re-branded in 2016 as Rubicon Bakers—is now a Certified B Corporation, which is a for profit business dedicated to social and environmental issues. Under Andrew’s Curb-Banh mi leadership, the staff has grown to just over 100 full-time employees who keep the bakery running from 6 AM to 10 PM Monday through Friday in three separate shifts. Ninety percent of the employees are Richmond residents, and half of the original fourteen who were employed when Andrew purchased the bakery still work there today. They receive living wages, health benefits, paid vacation, and sick leave, and even have access to no-interest employee loans for unforeseen and/or emergency situations. As stipulated as part of the sale, Rubicon Bakers has stayed true to the social mission of the original bakery, hiring those who are looking to turn around lives that have been derailed by addiction, incarceration, unemployment, or other afflictions. Anyone who comes through the door of Rubicon Bakers and demonstrates a true desire to work may be given a chance to do so, regardless of their circumstances. The bakery refers individuals to Rubicon Programs who are in need of job training, and also hires referrals from the program who have completed training. To retain the Rubicon name, Stoloff agreed to pay a percentage of the bakery’s annual sales in royalties to Rubicon Programs, which greatly benefits the non-profit and furthers its work in the community. My guest and I had the good fortune to visit the bakery, and we met with Marketing representative, Frankie Whitman, who was happy to share with us the history of Rubicon Bakers and tell us about the many products made there. After our chat, Frankie graciously offered to take us on a tour of the facility. We donned white jackets and hair coverings before entering the bakery floor, where we were immediately immersed in wonderful sweet smells. Since purchasing the bakery, Andrew has invested over $500,000 in upgrades and new, state-of-the art equipment which has enhanced the operation of the bakery and enabled increased production levels. During the tour, we saw many of the new pieces of Not Open to the Public | Bakery Hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM (M-F) | Closed Saturday & Sunday


Contra Costa Marketplace - Aug 2017
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