OUR STORY

Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop is a small artisan bakery which began in 2009 in the heart of South Addition – one of Anchorage’s oldest downtown neighborhoods.  In the fall of 2015, a second location was opened in the charming Airport Heights neighborhood, just south of Merrill Field. Our line of baked goods include crusty, traditional breads, sweet and savory croissants and scones, hearty muffins, fresh baked cookies, frosted cakes, tarts, multi-grain granola, a variety of daily sandwiches, and holiday specialties. We proudly brew organic, fairly traded coffee and tea.

a true family business

The bakeshop was founded by husband and wife, Janis Fleischman and Jerry Lewanski, in the spring of 2009. Jerry's love of baking began as a hobby, and after retiring as Alaska's Director of State Parks, he trained at the San Francisco Baking Institute, where his passion for baking truly took off. Janis shared in Jerry's pursuit of excellent food, and together they toured the country, studying bakeries and discovering what flavors and products they most enjoyed.

Jerry and Janis looked high and low throughout the municipality to find what would soon become our first family bakery. Nestled in the South Addition neighborhood on the corner of 14th Ave. & G Street, a cozy and intentional space was created. Fire Island's first baker was Greta Lewanski, working alongside her parents to create the first season of baked goods. Josh Saul and his partner, Tess Millard, began working at the bakery that first summer to help get the bakery up and running. Tess was integral in the creation and cultivation of the bakery's culture and look, and she has designed each new bakery we build. Josh and Tess have since returned to their beloved New York City, focusing on their careers as a reporter and designer.

Rachel Pennington, the youngest daughter of Janis and Jerry, joined the bakery in 2010, first on the counter and then as a baker. Rachel became a full partner after ten years of working and investing in the business. Rachel now serves Fire Island as managing partner and owner. Her husband, Mack Pennington, also contributes substantially to the bakery's success and overall functionality. Mack facilitates relationships and projects on behalf of the bakery to create smart, safe spaces that advance our company mission. We carefully design and build lovely, highly functional spaces to serve our neighbors, creating a community hub for both locals and tourists to connect and enjoy.

The bakery is beyond lucky to have two General Managers, Erica Merrill and Harrison Scheib. Together, with a combined 18 years of experience at Fire Island, they direct an 80-person team with the goal of creating an outstanding culinary experience. These two steward leaders oversee daily operations and make certain that every batch of rustic scones, crusty breads, and outrageous cupcakes comes out of the oven perfectly. Their focus on ethically sourcing ingredients, partnering with local vendors from around Alaska and beyond, and maintaining sky-high standards ensures our bakery continues to bring delight, happiness, and comfort to anyone who enters our doors.

NOTABLE MENTIONS