New bakery planned for downtown Lombard

Lombardians looking for some freshly baked pastries or a place to grab a lunchtime sandwich in the downtown area may soon have a new place to turn.

Next week, the village board will give final consideration to Balkan Bakery and Coffee, which is hoping to open this winter at 14 W. St. Charles Road.

The property has sat vacant since a custom cabinet store moved out of the space about a year ago, said Community Development Director Bill Heniff.

The bakery's owner, Dragica Mitic, has 20 years of experience in the bakery business, including 10 years as a bakery manager for Dominick's, according to a business plan.

Mitic plans to sell European pastries and custom cakes at the bakery, along with hot and cold sandwiches, smoothies and specialty drinks. Proposed hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., six days a week.

Heniff said the economic and community development committee unanimously approved two grants for the bakery — one for interior improvements and another for exterior improvements.

The exterior improvements, he said, would include a new awning and turn a grassy, vacant lot on the adjacent property to the east — which he said has been underutilized for years — into a deck with outdoor seating.

Last month, the plan commission unanimously recommended the village board approve the deck.

On Thursday, the village board will consider final approval of the project.

At the previous village board meeting, Trustee Laura Fitzpatrick, chairwoman of the economic and community development committee, said she was excited about the business.

“This is the parcel that is open to St. Charles Avenue that has been vacant for a long time and we'll finally have a lovely outdoor seating use for it,” she said. “It will get a lot of use during the day and in the morning, when they're selling their bakery goods.”

Heniff agreed, saying that he expects the village board will approve the new business.

“I think is exactly the type of business we've been seeking to come to downtown Lombard,” he said. “It's something that we don't quite have ... and it fills and unique market niche.”