Editor’s note: The Daily Reporter will feature our “Neighbors” regularly, whether it be someone with an interesting hobby or profession, or a nonprofit group making a difference in our community. Here, Katie Greider shares about Three Bears Bakery, which opened this year adjacent to Depot Street Park. Originally from New Palestine, Greider, her husband of 15 years and three children (“three bears”) currently live in Greenfield. If you know a person or a group that you’d like to see featured in Neighbors, email [email protected].
Daily Reporter: How did you become interested in baking?
Katie Greider: I’ve been interested in baking since my oldest boys were toddlers. I was always making treats for school, and birthday cakes for my family. I started Three Bears Bakery shortly after I attended a cookie decorating class in 2018. I’ve always loved to be creative, and not only did I pick up decorating quickly, but I truly enjoy it. I’ve been baking and decorating cookies for customer events, having pop-up sales, and doing porch pickups for six years. It’s hard to believe!
Daily Reporter: Why did you open Three Bears Bakery’s storefront?
KG: My sister and I always had a dream of opening a little bakery. A cute little place to stop in, grab something sweet, and spread a little kindness to our customers. I had to put the idea on the back-burner in 2022 after she unexpectedly passed away, I knew there was no way I could do it on my own.
Then plans changed. The spot at Depot Street stumbled into my path, and I knew I couldn’t pass it up. My landlady Dana was so kind and I just felt like that is where Three Bears Bakery needed to head next. So my husband and I (with a help of a few great friends) renovated the dated space into my cute little 490-square foot bakery. (Goodbye, porch pickups!)
Daily Reporter: What do you offer that’s unique?
KG: My mom (Christa Leppert, also a long time New Pal resident) and I do all the baking, we are a two-lady operation for the time being. We are open every Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and have a variety of cookies, macarons, cake pops, and more sweets to choose from. We still offer custom orders for parties/events directly on our website. If there are concerts or events going on at Depot Street Park, we love to make coordinating treats.
When the parks department showed the “Barbie” movie at the park, I made Barbie cookies and pink cake pops. We also had a Barbie Box photo prop installed along the side of the building by KK Party Co., and everybody loved it! I can’t wait to plan more fun opportunities for our community, it was so fun to see all the smiling little (and grown up) faces!
Daily Reporter: What’s coming up next?
KG: The parks department will be showing “Tangled” on Sept. 14, and we are planning a princess week at the bakery! It will include a real visiting princess, the cutest themed treats, and probably a few more things because I am so excited for this event!
DR: What’s it like being at the park?
KG: Being at Depot Street Park has been a learning curve, but I think we are getting the hang of things. The parks department has been so helpful with navigating all the new rules and making sure I had an entrance for customers during the concerts. I’m excited to call Depot Street Park, home.
DR: What are some of your favorite creations?
KG: That one is tough. It is so fun to see all the different themes that moms plan for parties and it so special to me to be a small part of it. Theme wise lately it would have to be Taylor Swift and Bluey!
Career-wise though, I’ve been making cookies for every artist that comes to Ruoff for the past two years! It has definitely been one of the coolest things I’ve been a part of! I’ve made cakes for Post Malone, Kenny Chesney’s manager, and so many more that I never in a million years thought I would get to create!
Three Bears Bakery is located at 120 S. Pennsylvania St., Greenfield. For updates on events, visit facebook.com/ThreeBearsBakeryKG.
