Spokane’s Great Harvest Bread Co. store has reopened under new owners and with a new look after shutting down last August.

The Dillion, Mont.-based company is a national franchise bakery that sells daily and seasonal bread varieties, fresh sandwiches, and sweets, as well as offering daily specials and regular menu items. The chain is also known for giving a free slice of bread to all customers.

The Spokane bakery-restaurant, located at 2530 E. 29th, was purchased in September by husband and wife team, Trevor and Tori Plaisted.

The two grew up in the Tri-Cities area and were previously living in San Antonio for Trevor Plaisted’s work as a chemical engineer.

“We see it as an opportunity to move back closer to family,” he says. “It’s also just a great place for a bakery, already well established in the community. We thought it’d be a shame to see it close down.”

Plaisted says the pair heard about the opportunity to purchase the store through his uncle, who operates a Great Harvest Bread store in Kennewick.

“Since we bought the place in September, it’s been no-stop remodeling, preparing, training, and basically getting ready for opening,” says Plaisted.

The 3,200-square-foot store seemed to have fallen into disrepair and was in need of a deep cleaning, he says, adding that the couple spent about $25,000 to remodel the space in time for its opening date.

The remodeling work included resurfacing the floors, adding walls to partition off certain areas, and creating an office space as well as a dry storage area.

“I have a background in building homes, so myself and family members did just about everything ourselves,” Plaisted says. “It was extra special to be such a big part of the process right from the beginning and see it to completion.”

Plaisted says the new layout allows visiting customers to see through to the production area, where they can watch as employees knead bread, and place it in the oven.

Following its opening Oct. 21, Plaisted says the store has been doing well.

“Grand opening really exceeded our expectations,” he says. “I’m really happy with how welcoming the community has been and continues to be. We’re excited to be open and bring them the bread they’ve always loved.”

He says the store currently has 11 employees, but is still looking for additional part-time help.

“We’re constantly looking for good, talented, hardworking people with a positive perspective,” he says. 

Plaisted says maintaining that positive perspective is part of the store’s focus moving forward. 

“While profitability is important, what we really want to do is be a part of the community,” he says. “That means creating a positive environment that gives customers, even those who don’t end up buying anything, an enjoyable experience.”

Plaisted has a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the University of Washington, and a master’s in business administration from Brigham Young University, in Utah. 

His wife, Tori, holds a two-year elementary education degree from Brigham Young University’s Idaho campus. The two have four children, whom they hope will visit the store often. 

The first Great Harvest bakery was started in 1976 by Pete and Laura Wakeman in Great Falls, Mont. The couple sold the company in 2001, and it is now owned by Great Harvest employees and officers, including CEO Mike Ferretti and President Eric Keshin. 

Currently there are more than 200 Great Harvest bakery and cafe franchises located across the United States, including in Alaska and Hawaii.