Inspiring Conversations with Keturah Fleming-Hall of La Fillette Bakery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keturah Fleming-Hall.

Hi Keturah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
We started off with wholesale clients and found the retail space in Hilltop. It was a much different-looking neighborhood seven years ago! Hilltop has grown so much in the last seven years and so have we. We have gone to almost all retail and just a few wholesale accounts. The pandemic was tough and we had to navigate and change over the last few years. We use to have a few tables in the bakery and then moved to only take out. We are in the process of building out a new space that will offer seating, drinks and service. We are very excited about this and can’t wait to share more as we get closer to the move!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been smooth. The first three years were very tough. Opening a restaurant has its long hours, holidays to deal with and zero time off. We are blessed that we could adapt during the pandemic and really focus on product quality and consistency. Hiring our kitchen manager, Patrick Kennedy, has been a game-changer. Having a consistent, creative and experienced manager in the back has been so helpful. We also hired a front-of-the-house and operations manager, Kristen Bernhard. She has grown our social media, launched a new website, staffed the front, and is always looking for new ways to help us grow. Post pandemic there has been a labor shortage. We are currently understaffed but the crew we have is the best! Small and crushing it! I am so grateful for the crew that has stuck through the crazy times to get us to where we are today.

We’ve been impressed with La Fillette Bakery, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are an artisan French bakery. We make everything from scratch. We pride ourselves in the quality and consistency of our pastries, bread, brunch items, sandwiches and more. We are a diverse crew with many different backgrounds that love what we do. I think this sets us apart. We use our combined experiences to make the best product we can. I like to think we do classic French pastries with a twist. Seasonal flavors, twist on the originals and more.

We are currently take out only but are excited to move to a larger space later in the summer. We will be growing our offerings, providing a space for sit down community and more drink options.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
This has been such a big help for me. I got lucky that some of my mentors are other local business owners that have taken the time to answer questions and point me in the right direction. It’s been invaluable to have these people come beside me, encourage me and support me. I’ve found these people mostly by interacting with the community and spending the time to get to know the business owners in our neighborhood.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lafillettebakery.com
• Instagram: lafillette_bakery
• Facebook: @lafillettedenver

Image Credits
Patrick Meehan