Carson City’s L.A. Bakery prepares for expansion

Bread is rising in ovens at L.A. Bakery — and so is business.

After five years of serving sweet and savory plates in Carson City, owners Ali Arbabha and Leila Tavakoli are expanding the bakery to 2,500 feet, upgrading to 84 seats and parking options.

Fans of the bakery also can look forward to a future menu of frozen take-out soups, including more breakfast, lunch, and sweet eats made with organic, locally grown products.

This will be the first business in Carson City to offer organic, vegan, sugar-free, and gluten-free options in one place, Arbabha said.

“It’s a dream come true for my business,” Arbabha said. “Our local supporters kept us busy.”

The couple celebrated Thursday on construction grounds at 220 W. John St., along with employees, customers, and local supporters such as the Carson City Chamber of Commerce, Judge James T. Russell, and the city’s visitors bureau.

Mayor Bob Crowell joined the owners to delve into dirt on site with ceremonial shovels.

“This is an American success story,” he said. “It’s iconic because it’s a family oriented business from scratch.”

During 2009 — the pre-L.A. Bakery days — the couple started with their former bakery, Shirini Shop, selling pastries to area restaurants, grocers, and consumers. It wasn’t until 2012 L.A. Bakery came into the world but high demand directed the business to expand in 2015 to its current state.

The expansion of the bakery is like adding icing on a cupcake, except, it’s going to take about 135 days to complete, according to Arbabha. The structure will spread to the corner of Fleischmann and North Curry streets. The wall with windows, where most seating is arranged, will be torn down to make room for a larger kitchen.

This not only adds more seating, but also a conference room open to the public for meetings, buffets, and weddings along with an extended catering menu.

Once construction is finished in August, Arbabha also anticipates sharing space for local artists to showcase work in conjunction with benefitting Carson City’s Center of Women’s Health Care.

Arbabha said the busy construction shouldn’t discourage customers from stopping by. L.A. Bakery remains open during regular hours: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturdays. Closed on Sundays.