Wells County Chamber of Commerce staff and Ambassadors recently celebrated the ribbon-cutting for Main & Central Baking Co. at 505 South Main Street in Bluffton. The bakery fulfills a longtime family dream while transforming a familiar local landmark into a welcoming community gathering place.
At the heart of that transformation is a dream Ayra shared with her dad more than a decade ago. “When she was eight, she looked up at me with her pretty eyes and said that she’d like to have a bakery someday,” Dan recalled. He hoped to help make that dream a reality, though he never imagined the journey ahead.
Years later, an unexpected opportunity to purchase a familiar Bluffton landmark gave the family a chance to turn Ayra’s childhood dream into reality. Blake Fiechter called Dan about the building approximately four years ago, and although it needed extensive work, Dan saw its potential as both a bakery and a community gathering place.
Turning that potential into reality, however, presented significant challenges. After researching the renovation requirements, Dan considered abandoning the project. A simple prayer and an unexpected follow-up conversation persuaded him to take the next step.
Although the project initially seemed overwhelming, Dan and his family continued moving forward after receiving encouragement from community leaders and residents. When Dan and Blake presented their plans to local planning officials and the city council, the response strengthened their vision. “We met with unanimous excitement, support, and approval,” Dan shared.
Even with that support, purchasing and renovating the building, meeting state and local requirements, and preparing the space required time and perseverance. Dan said encouragement and help from throughout the community kept the family moving forward. Four years after the opportunity arose, they are excited to see their vision become reality.
Bringing that vision to life became a true family effort. Dan has eight daughters and one son, and several daughters helped launch the bakery. Ayra’s love of baking inspired the business, while her sisters support daily operations, baking, food preparation, and coffee service. From the kitchen to the front counter, Main & Central Baking Co. is built on their shared dream.
That hands-on family approach carries through to the menu, which features a variety of homemade, from-scratch items throughout the day. The bakery specializes in artisan breads, with different flavors featured each week, along with pies, pastries, danishes, and cookies for everyday treats and special occasions.
Alongside the baked goods, coffee is central to the experience. The family makes flavored syrups and roasts its own beans, offering options such as cold brew and nitro brew. Plans also call for featuring beans from different origins to add variety to the menu.
The menu expands at lunchtime, served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with sandwiches, chicken and ham dishes with assorted sauces, and rotating daily soups, including soup in a bread bowl. The bakery also offers take-and-bake meals to help busy families enjoy an easy dinner at home.
Now, as Main & Central Baking Co. welcomes customers through its doors, the family hopes the bakery will be a place where people gather, connect, and enjoy traditions that strengthen families and communities. “We want to keep giving back to the community. We want to keep inviting them in,” Dan said. Through homemade offerings and a welcoming atmosphere, the family aims to do just that.
The family’s commitment to the community is matched by its gratitude. The Dubachs thanked local residents, community leaders, and everyone whose encouragement and enthusiasm helped bring the project to life. What began as a young girl’s dream has become a family venture and a meaningful way to serve the community.
Now open to welcome the community, Main & Central Baking Co. is located at 505 South Main Street in Bluffton and is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pictured cutting the ribbon are Dan Dubach and his family, joined by Wells County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and Board Members.
Please view more photos from the event on our Facebook page.