At The Pioneer Bakery Café in Kirkwood, located at 210 N. Kirkwood Road, you’ll discover more than just a delightful menu; you’ll find a mission woven into every dish. “Baking New Beginnings” isn’t just a tagline here; it’s the very essence of this unique establishment.
This café is a heartwarming collaboration between McArthur’s Bakery, a local institution, and Lafayette Industries’ STEPUP program. This partnership provides adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities invaluable opportunities to hone essential soft skills. They gain experience in both front-of-house and back-of-house roles within a fast-casual dining setting. The genesis of this inspiring venture arose after McArthur Bakery’s Kirkwood location closed its doors in 2019. Seeking a meaningful way to repurpose the space, the team conceived The Pioneer Bakery Cafe.
“We hope our mission gets you through the door, but you return for the food and the experience,” says owner Scott Rinaberger, highlighting the café’s dual appeal. “We have a great mission but even better food.”
Here’s a taste of what awaits you at The Pioneer Bakery Cafe:
Seasonal Specials and Sweet Celebrations
The Pioneer Bakery Cafe keeps its offerings fresh and exciting with a rotating selection of seasonal and monthly specials.
Planning a Mardi Gras celebration? Don’t miss their king cakes, available for online order through McArthur’s Bakery’s website. You can conveniently pick them up at Pioneer Bakery Cafe or McArthur’s Bakery (3055 Lemay Ferry).
Indulge in their Cake of the Month program, featuring tempting flavors like Winter White Cherry in January and Amaretto with raspberry filling in February.
Mark your calendars for February 4th! The café will celebrate Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, opening its impressive ice cream bar at 7 a.m. Treat yourself to scoops of Wisconsin-based Cedar Crest Ice Cream alongside warm waffles or paired with a slice of McArthur’s signature gooey butter cake.
A Menu Crafted with Care by Chef Jason Longfield
The culinary heart of The Pioneer Bakery Cafe is veteran Chef Jason Longfield, who brings over 25 years of restaurant experience to the kitchen. Owner Rinaberger praises Longfield, stating, “We’re fortunate with Jason. He’s created a good kitchen environment.” A Manchester native with culinary arts and business degrees from Johnson and Wales University, Longfield’s background includes fine-dining establishments across the country and St. Louis’s own OG Hospitality Group (known for The Shack, Corner Pub, and The Tavern).
Mornings at Pioneer Bakery Cafe are synonymous with Longfield’s exceptional scratch-made cheddar-chive biscuits. “The DoorDash orders start dinging at 5:30 a.m.,” Longfield shares, “and people are standing at the door at 7 a.m., ready to get coffee and a biscuit before going to work.” These biscuits are toasted, split, buttered, and served warm – perfect plain, as a sandwich, or smothered in savory sage sausage gravy.
Another breakfast sensation is their Rosemary Breakfast Potatoes. “Some of our patrons call them ‘potato crack’—they go crazy for them,” Rinaberger laughs. Chef Longfield’s process involves parboiling new red potatoes, smashing them, and frying them to golden-brown perfection. They are then tossed in a flavorful blend of coarse salt, rosemary, and Parmesan cheese seasoning. “I keep a pot boiling all day,” Longfield mentions, recalling a customer who even ordered a whole tray for Thanksgiving.
The breakfast menu extends beyond biscuits and potatoes to include omelets, quiche, avocado toast on wheatberry bread with ‘everything’ seasoning, classic biscuits and gravy, pancakes, brioche French toast, and breakfast sandwiches. Kids will love the chocolate chip pancakes among other kid-friendly options. Weekend brunch brings special dishes like Short Rib Hash, a hearty skillet of red-wine braised beef, red potatoes, caramelized onions, and red bell pepper, topped with two eggs and a mild horseradish sauce. And don’t miss their weekend pancakes, featuring delightful lemon, blueberry, and ricotta cheese variations.
For weekday lunch, Pioneer Bakery Cafe offers a selection of fresh salads and satisfying sandwiches. From the ‘Hand Helds’ section, try the TLC Grilled Chicken sandwich, featuring tequila-, lime-, and cilantro-marinated grilled chicken breast with bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado spread, chipotle aioli, and queso fresco. Burger enthusiasts should opt for the J’s BD Smash Burger, a made-to-order masterpiece with two beef patties, bacon, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and cheddar cheese – named for being declared the “best damn burger.” Seasonal salads, like a recent Fall Harvest Salad with butternut squash, apples, candied pecans, goat cheese, spring mix, chicken, and apple cider vinaigrette, add variety to the lunch menu.
Quench your thirst with their beverage options, ranging from coffee and tea to fresh-squeezed lemonade, canned sodas, and adult beverages like mimosas, bellinis, spicy Bloody Marys, and spiked coffee or smoothies.
For a sweet finish, indulge in Pioneer’s bread pudding, available in chocolate or strawberry lemon flavors.
Smiley Face Cookies and the Sweetness of Inclusivity
Pastries and cakes from McArthur’s Bakery fill the to-go counter, and custom decorated birthday cakes are also available for order. A beloved classic, the brightly colored Smiley Face cookies, carry on the tradition from the former Kirkwood bakery and are central to the Smiley Face Cookie Company. These cheerful cookies, even featured on the Today show and sold at Schnucks, are hand-dipped and decorated by STEPUP program participants.
“The smiles are unique,” Rinaberger explains about the cookies. “They are perfectly imperfect cookies.”
More Than a Cafe: A Mission in Action
“We all have become better people because of working with the STEPUP individuals,” Rinaberger reflects. “Their joy is transformative. It’s easy to lose perspective, but attitudes have changed because everyone learns to work as a team.”
Participants in the STEPUP program gain valuable transferable skills during their one to two years at The Pioneer Bakery Cafe. “They do a little bit of everything,” says Rinaberger, “from cleaning tasks to dishes to parceling bacon and mixing eggs.” Impressively, nine out of eleven recent program graduates have transitioned into competitive employment, securing jobs with above minimum wage pay and over 24 hours per week.
“It’s a fresh start for them,” Rinaberger concludes, “and they learn confidence, patience and teamwork.”
The Pioneer Bakery Cafe is truly a special place where the community can enjoy delicious food while supporting a meaningful mission that empowers individuals and enriches lives.
