The owner of Bleu Bear Bakery, Ridgway Grace, has an endearing story behind the name of her bakery. When her stepdaughter was young, her safe word for feeling scared or overwhelmed was “Blue Bear”. As she got older, the phrase became more of a nickname. After a slight tweak to the spelling, Bleu Bear Bakery now serves as a bridge between past and future.
Bleu Bear Bakery is a cozy shop that shares a retail space (but not a kitchen) with Seymour’s BBQ. The homestyle bakery is dedicated gluten-free, and also offers dairy free and vegan items. Popular menu items include peanut butter tandy cake (made with cake, peanut butter, and chocolate), and crumb cake. The latter is Ridgway’s favorite item, and has special significance because it uses her mother’s recipe.
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Great-Tasting, Allergen-Friendly Desserts
Bleu Bear Bakery boasts a variety of crumb cake flavors daily. Highlights include cherry cheesecake crumb and “Ferrero Rocher” crumb, with dulce de leche and Nutella. Other popular picks include chocolate peanut butter cup crumb and lemon blueberry crumb.
The bakery’s allergen-friendly options are something Ridgway prides herself on. Prior to having her youngest daughter, Ridgway had no allergies in the house. A remarkable feat, considering she has seven kids: four prior to meeting her fiancé, two from his prior relationship, and then their youngest daughter together. But her daughter is allergic to dairy and eggs. “I love accommodating people’s needs,” Ridgway says. “And seeing them so excited to find things they can enjoy.”
About Bleu Bear Bakery
Ridgway grew up in South Jersey, starting out in Moorestown before living in Cherry Hill. She has been in the food industry since she was 14. She has a degree from the Academy of Culinary Arts, a bachelor’s in hospitality management, and a minor in business. Her fiancé also has restaurant experience, previously helping to run a popular pizza shop in Pennsylvania.
Opening Bleu Bear Bakery wasn’t always Ridgway’s goal, especially since her background is more so in catering and cooking. “But I saw a need in the community many years ago and seized the opportunity,” she says. While many recipes come from her mother, others come from inspiration she finds on social media. Others are original creations developed over time to accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan needs in the community.
Visit Bleu Bear Bakery at 201 Haddon Ave in West Berlin. Look for them online to learn more.
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All Photos: © Ridgway Grace
