The Crumb Factory, a newly opened artisan bakery, brings handmade pastries, thoughtfully sourced ingredients, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere to Dunedin’s local food scene. Located at 1689 Main Street, a space where Southern Bay Bakery once sat, the eatery’s backstory is rooted in family, intention, and a love of craft.
After years working for Chipotle’s corporate team, owners Pablo Mardones and his wife, Katie, decided it was time to slow down and reconnect with what mattered most: building something meaningful together. Pablo had always dreamed of opening an artisan bakery unlike anything else in Pinellas County, so he traded burritos for baked goods and opened The Crumb Factory’s first location on Central Avenue in St. Pete.
“After four incredible years of getting to know our St. Petersburg community, we started asking ourselves what the next chapter for The Crumb Factory might look like,” Pablo shares. “Do we lean more into wholesale? Open a second location? Or stay exactly where we are?”
A conversation with a longtime customer and local realtor soon provided the couple with the answers they were looking for. She shared information about a vacant bakery storefront in Dunedin, one that would be perfect for a second location. “We had already fallen in love with Dunedin’s charm and welcoming energy,” he continues. “It felt like a sign. The timing was right, and the city felt like home.”…