Welcome to Old Town Bay St. Louis!
Mississippi Gulf Coast
Our April 2018 Second Saturday
"Hot Spots"
stay "Hot" all month!
Hot Spot Activities are 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Serious Bread BakeryHandmade artisan breads & sweet things (scones, cookies, & muffins).
131 Main Street, Suite D
Bay St. Louis, MS 39502 228.231.1214 
Alan and Vivian Jenson
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The Porch at the Bay An eclectic mix of farmhouse meets industrial. Uncommon goods for creative ideas.
112 S. Second Street
The Shops of Century Hall Bay St. Louis, MS 39502 504.858.8574 |
If you blink while passing, you could miss the place, but you will be sorry if you do.
Nestled inside the shops on Main Street, at 131 Main Street, Suite D, behind Bay Books, Serious Bakery is a beloved Bay St. Louis attraction for locals and returning visitors alike. All are welcome. “We like our city and, most of all, we enjoy our customers,” say Al and Vivian Jensen, proprietors. Al Jensen is a retired oceanographer who traveled around the world during his career, sampling breads in every country he visited. Frustrated by the lack of artisan breads on the Gulf Coast, this staff-of-life connoisseur later decided to solve the problem by becoming a baker himself. Jensen pursued his new vocation “seriously.” After several workshops with a world-renowned baker in Vermont, the Jensens began selling their loaves in regional farmers’ markets and, for four and a half years, provided the Mockingbird Café with sandwich bread. Finding that their offerings were snapped up by a public hungry for more, the couple opened Serious Bread and never looked back. They still sell their goods at Long Beach and Ocean Springs farmers’ markets but have expanded into other enterprises of late. In its latest phase of wholesale marketing, Serious Breads has teamed with the Kiln’s Lazy Magnolia Brewery. The Brewery’s menu creations—from chicken and vegetarian pizzas to cheese-dip bowls—rely on brat buns, bread bowls, crostini, Bavarian style soft pretzels, and flatbread provided by Serious Bread. “Our world is about change, and so is our bakery,” notes Al. Some things, however, like a reliance on King Arthur Flour and other wholesome ingredients, remain the same. Most especially, the bakery continues to soak grains for eight to ten hours to dissipate phytic acid and make minerals and nutrients more available. This time-honored way of baking bread results in healthy, easily-digestible, and delicious loaves. Long a family affair, daughter Renee now serves as manager, buyer, and scheduler. In addition, the Jensens are “phasing in” new bakers who add new goodies. Jose Pablo Paz, known simply as Pablo, trained with an “old-time” French baker, and comes from a long line of bakers. In addition to the artisan bread he bakes daily assisted by apprentice Phillip DelValle, Pablo rustles up cinnamon rolls, shoe soles, turnovers, and seasonal King Cakes—the latter so spectacular they were featured on WGNO TV News with a Twist during Mardi Gras. The Jensens understand the importance of staff. Rose Gooding, creator of the all-natural energy bars that are such a favorite of athletic types who swear the healthy snack sustains them during long runs and bike rides, has been part of the “work family” for five years. Sara Hahn assists Rose in the creation of scones, muffins, cookies, the occasional cake, and an assortment of luncheon items like tabbouleh, hummus, chicken salad, and other mouth-watering foods. In the spirit of progress and change, Al adds, “We are giving serious thought to offering a mini flatbread and soup meal.” The lucky Mudfest patrons that sampled the Jensen’s 100-year-old family recipe, lentil- and goat-sausage soup, will approve. Serious Bread is open Tuesday through Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, April 14, the bakery will extend its hours to 8:00 p.m. If you stop by between 4 and 8, you will be treated to samples of the Coast Roast coffee so beloved by locals along with yet to be determined goodies, brought to you via the creative imaginations of Al and Vivian Jensen, and their bakers and baker’s helpers. You will be glad you did. Seriously. |
The porch—wraparound or screened in—we love it and can’t seem to imagine living without. Some of us live for and on our porches, especially in the summer months. JoAnn Saucier created The Porch at the Bay, one of the Century Hall shops at 112 S. Second Street, Bay St. Louis, to reflect the “easy feel” of the front porch. “When people walk in,” she says, “I want them to feel happy and good.” Shoppers will find an eclectic mix of farmhouse meets industrial. Lovely chalk-painted pieces, both large and small, fill The Porch. Saucier rehabs the “worst-looking stuff” she can find, meticulously restoring and repainting it from one of the many, many luscious chalk paints she keeps on hand in the shop. “In fact,” she notes, “I would like to offer classes on chalk painting soon.” An array of handy kitchen items with a farmhouse look rounds out the merchandise. Think “uncommon goods for creative ideas,” like grain-sack material that Saucier describes as “perfect for turning into table runners or covering a chair seat,” adding, “the possibilities are endless!” Beautifully woven baskets adorn the walls and, below, them, fabulous planters that look like baskets but are made from cement. Saucier confides laughingly that she might just have a “basket addiction.” The Porch, which opened in 2017, is a relative newcomer to the Bay. Before moving to Bay St. Louis, Saucier ran The Porch on Magazine Street in New Orleans. With a background in art, Saucier first opened a booth on Magazine Street with a fellow student at New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts. Over the years, Bay Life Gifts owner Janice Guido, friend, and neighbor (before Guido relocated to the Bay), encouraged Saucier to move to Bay St. Louis. With husband in tow, Saucier began visiting the Bay increasingly often and, as she tells it, “The more we came here, the less we wanted to go back.” In 2014, the couple began making plans to move to the Bay in earnest. In 2017, Saucier opened The Porch in Century Hall. A year later, Guido moved Bay Life Gifts from Main Street to Century Hall, and the two are neighbors once again. The Porch is downstairs on the left, and Bay Life Gifts is downstairs on the right. It’s a double delight! Saucier loves being in the Bay—"The people, the atmosphere, the slower pace . . . it all just makes me happy.” And she has found her perch in Century Hall. Saucier says she loves bouncing ideas off “fun and energetic” shopkeepers like Guido and Susan Peterson, Bay Elements proprietor and manager of Century Hall. “Other shopkeepers always have great ideas,” she says. The future holds all kinds of possibilities. Saucier looks forward to adding a few more food products to flesh out the jellies and spices she already carries, and, perhaps most importantly, Saucier is looking forward to returning to her artwork and displaying it in the shop. Saucier’s most recent development takes the form of an online series entitled “Meet Me on the Porch Monday.” The series of inspirational porches can be found only on Facebook at @ThePorchattheBay. The Porch is open 10 to 5 Tuesday through Saturday, 11 to 3 on Sundays, and closed for business on Mondays. Saucier invites you to grab your BFF and head on over to The Porch on Saturday, April 14, for drinks, snacks, and live music. While there, take advantage of many shops under one roof and ample on-site parking. Sit a spell. Feel happy and good. 
JoAnn Saucier, center, with Susan Peterson (L) and Janice Guido (R)
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To learn more about the Old Town Merchants Association, use the alphabetical list below. You can also search by category from the menu bar above.
 Click on the cover to open the tour now!
The Bay's Walking/Biking Historic Tour is proof in print that history doesn't have to be boring!
And now it's available in a nifty PDF version, so it can go with you on your phone! Click to open it up and get going right now! Look for an updated print version available free at various merchant locations throughout Old Town in the coming weeks! |
National Recognition
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In the June 2017 issue of Vogue Magazine, Bay St. Louis is featured in the article "A Summer Road Trip Along the Mississippi Gulf Coast". Share it with friends and business associates. To read the article in Vogue Magazine, click here!
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In March of 2017, Bay St. Louis was featured as one of Thrillist 13 Amazing American Beach Towns you can actually afford to live in. Explore Old Town and find out why!
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U.S. Solo Travel Destinations for women...
In March of 2017, Glamour Magazine named Bay St. Louis as one of eight cool, unexpected American destinations for women to consider for a solo travel destination. So start bragging!
Share it with friends and business associates. To read the article in Glamour Magazine, click here!
Share it with friends and business associates. To read the article in Glamour Magazine, click here!
BSL Makes "Best Of!"RECENTLY, BAY ST. LOUIS WAS ONE OF ONLY TWELVE MISSISSIPPI LOCATIONS TO BE SELECTED FOR THE "OFFICIAL BEST OF MISSISSIPPI" FEATURE. NOMINEES UNDERWENT A RIGOROUS SELECTION PROCESS. SEE WHY WE WERE CHOSEN "BEST PLEASURE SEEKER'S PARADISE" BELOW!
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The Second Saturday Artwalk is sponsored by Hancock Bank, People's Bank and The First Bank with support from the Seacoast Echo.
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