SANDPOINT — A grand opening on Halloween? Why not!

With the much-anticipated Bluebird Bakery now up and running, the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce celebrated the bakery’s membership and opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 31.

The bakery is a “dream come true” for owner/baker Jill Severson, of Bluebird Bakery. Severson pursued her passion for baking in various restaurants, bakeries, and hotels in Seattle from 2003-2014. During this time, she took a brief hiatus to attend the International Culinary Center in New York City to perfect European-style baking. Severson then spent several years as the head pastry chef for Majestic Valley Lodge/Heli-Ski Resort in Alaska, catering wedding and tourism events in the summer and Heli-ski groups in the winter. Severson then moved to Sandpoint where she had ties to the community.

Community members may have seen her at the Sandpoint Farmers Market the last two summers with her delicious breads, pastries, and cookies, as well as creating desserts at Beet & Basil. When the space at the corner of First and Cedar came up for rent late last year, Severson quickly contacted the building owner and secured the space for her dream bakery.

Fast forward to the official opening of Bluebird Bakery on Oct. 31. Severson has been committed to keeping all her ingredients, products, and even the custom-made furniture as locally and regionally sourced as possible. Among them, furniture designer and builder Brian Kelly of Old Tree (@oldtreeshop) who recalls Severson fully trusting him to create the furnishings for the bakery.

“She was a fan of my work and said just go for it,” said Kelly.

The result is a beautifully crafted space, with a clean, sleek design, warmth, and natural light. Everything about it is inviting.

Bluebird Bakery has a wide variety of delicacies from their buttery, flakey croissants to cookies, cinnamon rolls, Danishes, and delicious breads. They have a full-service coffee menu featuring Doma Coffee, mimosas, beer, and wine. They plan to have soups and sandwiches coming soon.

The community is invited to join the chamber in welcoming Bluebird Bakery, 329 N. First Ave., to the downtown community.

Their hours are Monday, 6 a.m.-3 p.m.; closed Tuesday and Wednesday; Thursday and Friday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. You can find them on Facebook and Instagram @bludebirdbakeryid.