Who We Are
Independent Baking Co.
We are a small, local, independently owned bakery in the heart of the historic Five Points neighborhood in Athens, Georgia. Our goal is to engage with our community through baking hearth-baked loaves of bread and pastries. While we are primarily a retail shop, you can find our products at restaurants and coffee shops around Athens.
We welcome you in to get your weekly loaf, a sweet treat, and an espresso while watching our skilled bakers in production or life go by in the charming Five Points neighborhood.
Kevin Scollo, Owner & Baker
With over 15 years of experience in bakeries and kitchens across New York City and Cleveland, Ohio, Kevin is proud to be the successor of Thom Leonard as owner of Independent Baking Company. He is grateful for the opportunity to do what he loves and contribute to the vibrant Athens community .
Ingredients & Method
Cereal grains have been a staple of our diets for thousands of years. When ground into flour and naturally fermented to make bread, they transform into a nourishing food that provides essential calories and nutrients we need. But not all bread is created equal—so what makes some healthier than others? The quality of ingredients and type of fermentation play a major role.
Bread should taste like the grain used to make it. By freshly milling whole grain flours, sourcing from quality mills, and partnering with organic, conscientious farmers, we optimize the flavor of the flour. We then use natural fermentation with a natural leaven culture (sourdough starter) to make the micronutrients in the flour available to our bodies, resulting in bread that is more nutritious and easier for our bodies to digest .
We bake a variety of breads using classic techniques, including both naturally leavened and commercial yeast-leavened options. Our natural fermentation process and careful maintenance of our sourdough starter result in a mildly tangy bread that lets the sweetness and nuttiness of the wheat shine through. We hope you enjoy!
Our Mills
Whole grain flour for the bakery is milled through either a ring-shaped basalt stone on a Zentrofan mill from Germany or between 26” granite stones on a mill made by New American Stone Mills in Vermont. We mill the flour at our own facility just down the road from the bakery.
Press
Food & Wine:
The Best Bread in Every State (2022)
“Somewhere in the middle of the last decade, a handful of the country's most forward-looking bakers started milling their own flour, not just as a way to fight back against the broken grain supply chain, but also because freshly milled whole grains, still brimming with nutrients and life and local terroir, make for better bread…” - David Landsel, Contributor
Southern Living:
The Best Way To Keep Your Bread Fresh, According To A Baker (2024)
"A good loaf is not something to waste, which is why it's important to learn how to store bread properly. Whether you buy artisanal sourdough or pick up something from the bakery at the local supermarket, the same principles apply (you don't want to put it in the fridge). We consulted a professional baker about the best way to store bread, as well what not to do, and how to use bread up if it does go stale on you…" - Alana Al-Hatlani, Assistant Food Editor
Southern Living:
The Best Bakeries In The South, According To Our Editors (2025)
"They make the most delicious array of breads and rotating seasonally-inspired pastries. The sesame semolina loaf and morning rolls are two of my go-tos—think a less sweet, more croissant-like pastry. It's a tiny little shop right in the middle of Athens, Georgia's 5 Points neighborhood so as soon as you walk in you can see the whole baking process." - Cameron Beall, Associate Homes Editor
Visit Us
Location
1625 S. Lumpkin St.
Athens, GA 30606
hours
Tues-Sat 7am–5pm
Sun 8am–2pm
Closed Monday
Email: info@independentbaking.com
Phone: (706) 850-3550
*For special orders or to reserve bread or pastries, please call us at (706) 850-3550 or talk to a front of house staff member. Advance payment is required.
*For wholesale inquires, please email us at info@independentbaking.com