Bakery 1908’s name comes from the lucky number 1908. But even luckier are the new customers of this Asian bakery as they walk away from the counter, their arms laden with handcrafted sweet buns and steaming coffees.
Located on the corner of Archer Road and Southwest 34th Street is the newest addition to Gainesville’s pastry scene. Originally opened as Sweet Buns Bakery in Gainesville, the store moved to Orlando alongside its owners for a rebrand. Now, they’re back home.
“I love how the college students are hanging out here and just doing their own group meetings, homework and stuff,” said general manager Verbena Ou. “I like the community we have in this location.”
Ou appreciates the college demographic the Gainesville location has attracted. Having such a young customer base has inspired new flavors for the bakery, including a croissant in the works modeled after the viral Dubai chocolate.
The bakery’s shelves are lined with dozens of buns, pastries, breads and sandwiches, from the savory-sweet pork floss bun to the trendy flavors of a matcha basque cheesecake.
Catherine Valencia, a 22 year-old UF communication sciences and disorders senior, enjoys the sliced sausage bun, a quasi-hot dog bread with chicken sausages topped with cheese. Ethan Le prefers a sweeter option: the caterpillar bun, a soft bread filled with buttercream frosting.
“It's awesome,” said Le, a 22-year-old UF digital arts and sciences graduate student. “It's been a while since we've had a kind of Asian bakery like this.”
The magic of the bun, one of Bakery 1908’s signature treats, results from multiple hours of prep by bakers, who make everything fresh in-house.
Every night, bakers prepare and roll the dough, which rises in the cooler overnight. Then, at 6:30 a.m., the rolls are taken out of the fridge and baked before the 8 a.m. opening. Customers who pick up two buns before 10:30 a.m. get a free coffee or tea included in their purchase.
The bakery gives the same attention to the buns’ presentation as they do their taste. The store has its own interior designer, who manages the lighting and decor to give the treats’ golden crusts an appetizing shine.
Mikel Lin, a 19-year-old UF aerospace and mechanical engineering sophomore and employee at Bakery 1908, appreciates the tight-knit community between himself and his coworkers. He’s been tasting each item on the menu thanks to his employee discount; his current favorite is the best-selling golden onion bun.
“It's not like a strict, sterile corporate environment.” Lin said. “We're just here to be here because we love being here.”
Contact Christopher Rodriguez at crodriguez@alligator.org. Follow him on X @ChrisRodri29386.
