Living in Short Pump

The world of artisanal baking in Richmond has evolved with Up All Night Bakery becoming a beloved staple for bread enthusiasts and pastry aficionados alike. Located near Short Pump, this charming bakery offers a taste experience that combines traditional techniques with extraordinary flavors. Whether you’re a local resident or just passing through, discovering this bakery will transform your understanding of what truly exceptional baked goods can be. Let’s explore what makes this bakery so special and why it deserves a spot on your must-visit list.

Introducing Up All Night Bakery: Spotlight on the bakery near Short Pump, VA, including its history (founded by Jonathan Highfield in 2019), the owner’s culinary background (26+ years of experience), and the unique wood-fired oven used to create their signature sourdough breads and pastries made from scratch with high-quality ingredients.

Up All Night Bakery emerged from the passionate vision of Jonathan Highfield, who transformed his long-held dream into reality in October 2019. With over 26 years of culinary expertise under his belt, Jonathan brings a wealth of knowledge to every loaf and pastry. His impressive background includes an associate’s degree in culinary arts and a bachelor’s degree in Food and Beverage Management from the prestigious New England Culinary Institute in Vermont.

Before establishing his own bakery, Jonathan spent 15 years teaching baking and pastry, including being one of the founding members of the Culinary Institute of Virginia. This extensive experience is evident in the exceptional quality of everything that comes out of his kitchen.

The bakery’s name originated from a lighthearted comment made by Jonathan’s wife during the early days when he was juggling multiple jobs while getting his business off the ground. What truly sets Up All Night Bakery apart is their remarkable wood-fired oven, hand-built by Hearth and Timber in Massachusetts. This 7,000-pound masterpiece sits on a trailer and requires 80-100 pounds of firewood and a six-hour burn to reach optimal temperature.

After spreading the coals and closing the damper, the masonry absorbs the heat overnight, allowing Jonathan to bake 100-150 loaves of sourdough bread using just the residual heat. This traditional method produces distinctive flavors and textures that simply can’t be replicated in conventional ovens.

Visitor Information and Experience: Details about the bakery’s Bellevue Avenue location including hours of operation (Wed-Fri 7am-1pm, Sat-Sun 7am-12pm), popular menu offerings (croissants, wood-fired breads, sandwiches), customer review highlights, parking options (street and private lot), and the freshly baked goods that come out of the oven around 9am.

Up All Night Bakery invites visitors to its Bellevue Avenue location at 1221 Bellevue Ave, Richmond, VA 23228. The bakery operates Wednesday through Friday from 7am to 1pm, and on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from 7am to 12pm, remaining closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. This cozy establishment offers both street parking and a private lot, making it convenient for customers arriving by car.

The menu changes daily, showcasing Jonathan’s creativity and commitment to freshness, but always features his renowned wood-fired sourdough breads, artisanal sandwiches, and croissants that undergo a meticulous three-day preparation process. For the freshest selection, customers are encouraged to arrive around 9am when bread starts coming out of the oven.

Customer reviews consistently highlight the exceptional quality and unique character of Up All Night Bakery’s offerings. One reviewer specifically praised the bakery’s rolls for having “that shattering flaky texture of a croissant, with the chew of a good cinnamon roll.” The bakery’s commitment to quality is evident in every aspect of their operation—from the carefully selected high-quality ingredients to the time-intensive techniques employed in creating their baked goods.

What began as a small operation using borrowed kitchen space has blossomed into a cherished community establishment. In November 2022, Jonathan expanded his business by opening the Bellevue location, which features the impressive mobile wood-fired bread oven that produces their signature sourdough loaves. For bread enthusiasts, few experiences compare to enjoying a freshly baked loaf from Up All Night Bakery.