A loaf of bread and WOW, homemade, just-out-of-the-oven cookies, offered free, weekday mornings at northwest suburban commuter train stations. Can`t beat that for service and price.
And that`s exactly what the owners of Great Harvest Bread Company in Arlington Heights have in mind by serving up their goodies and introducing themselves and their new store to local residents.
Since the whole wheat speciality bakery opened its doors in July, owners Paula and Chic Hall have been bringing samples of their fresh-baked goodies to early morning commuters at area train stations.
”We believe we`ve got the best product around and want to let people know we`re here,” says Paula, a former school teacher, who together with former banking executive husband, Chic, have aspired to open their own business, and specifically a Great Harvest Bread store. The couple became hooked on the bread several years ago while living in Boulder, Colo., the headquarters for the 50-store franchise. The Arlington Heights store is one of only three in Illinois. Others are located in Evanston and Naperville.
Their store motto: ”If you get it in their mouths, they`ll buy it.”
At Great Harvest, all breads are made with stone-milled, 100-percent whole wheat flour and baked on the premises every day. There are no added oils, fats, preservatives, eggs or dairy products. Each loaf is hand-kneaded and so fresh, that the-made-from-scratch breads don`t start coming out of the ovens until 10:15 a.m. On weekends, the entire Hall family, including daughters, Megan, 12 and Emily, 8, can be found behind the counter kneading dough and serving up goodies.
In addition to the basic honey and whole wheat varieties, bread specialties of the house (priced from $2.75 to $4.25) include cinnamon raisin walnut, onion dill rye, cherry walnut and harvest rye. Cookies, the huge, chewy kind, are another treat found at Great Harvest.
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The Great Harvest Bread Company, 318 E. Rand Rd., Arlington Heights in the North Point Shopping Center. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Call 590-1111.
