One of Wantagh’s busiest bakeries is finally adding a second retail day

For years, one of Wantagh’s most popular bakeries has only been open to the public for a few hours on Saturdays. That’s because Connemara Baking Co. is, first and foremost, a wholesale bakery.

Most of the week, the team behind the business at 3256 Railroad Ave. in Wantagh, across from the Wantagh LIRR station, is busy in the kitchen filling orders for restaurants and other wholesale clients across the region.

Now, after years of requests from loyal customers, owner Katie Bortell has decided it’s time to give the public another opportunity to stop by.

Beginning on August 6, Connemara Baking Co. will also be open on Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m., giving dessert lovers a second chance each week to pick up everything from carrot cake and handheld apple pies to its popular banana pudding.

“Customers have been asking us constantly for a second day,” Bortell told Greater Long Island. “They say it’s hard for them to get here on Saturday, so we finally decided to do it. We looked at the schedule and figured Thursday evenings are best.”

For many customers, the bigger question has always been why the storefront has only been open one day a week.

“I get that question every weekend,” Bortell said with a laugh. “And there’s a big sign in the window that says wholesale bakery, but people still ask.”

While the storefront has developed a loyal following, the retail shop is only one part of the operation. Most of the bakery staff’s time is spent producing baked goods for its wholesale accounts, leaving only a limited window each week to open the doors to the public.

Adding a second retail day wasn’t a decision Bortell made lightly.

“We didn’t want to do it too close to the weekend,” she said. “And no Mondays, because no one is thinking about a bakery that early in the week. So we picked the time we thought would work best.”

The expanded schedule means longer days for the bakery’s staff, but Bortell said it’s a trade-off she’s happy to make.