Willa’s Bakery Cafe

364 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534
518.697.3714 | willasbakery.com

 

Willa’s Bakery Café is exactly what its name says: a neighborhood bakery and café that serves homemade baked goods, breakfast and lunch in a
comfortable space on Warren Street in Hudson. In addition to traditional baked goods and bread, Willa’s serves a variety of sandwiches, salads, desserts, and beverages.
Many of its ingredients are sourced from local farms and providers.

Owners Andrew Buemi and Greg Hamm moved to Hudson from New York City. They brought a wealth of business experience with them.
Andrew spent several years in marketing and communications; Greg’s career was in law and finance.

The two also have experience in the bakery business. Andrew comes from a family of bakers. His grandfather owned Buemi & Sons Bakery outside of Philadelphia for 20 years.

“Baking and cooking is in my blood,” according to Andrew. “I rely on both instinct and technique from my family, but I also like to experiment with different flavors and
try new approaches.” Greg lived in Paris for three years and worked for the Maison Kayser bakery during his time there.

When it was time to leave the city, Andrew and Greg developed a plan around their shared passion for bringing traditional home cooking and
baking to their community, and their desire to live and work in the Hudson Valley. They opened Willa’s in August of 2019.  Named after their dog, Willa’s has become a
favorite spot for people who live and work nearby, visitors from out of town and Hudson business owners.

Andrew and Greg had the expertise to operate a business. They developed a comprehensive business plan, but needed additional capital to execute it.
They contacted Columbia Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) about a small business loan to help finance the start-up costs.

“The staff at the Bank of Greene County introduced us to Columbia Economic Development Corporation,” said Greg. “CEDC has experience working with
startups and new business owners. They helped us finalize our business plan – providing valuable insights on local economic trends – and we were fortunate to be approved for a loan.”

The owners also received free Technical Assistance from a CEDC business consultant. She helped them set up a QuickBooks account,
provided them training and continues to advise them on bookkeeping.

Willa’s Bakery Café provides a laid-back atmosphere for the Hudson community, and aims to be a welcoming environment for everyone. It is open for breakfast
and lunch every day except Monday and Tuesday. It offers indoor seating and take-out. The courtyard is popular in summer months,
and wool throws are available for outdoor dining in spring and fall.