Discover Danville's Hidden Gem: Bread Basket Café & Bakery's Homestyle Delights

When you walk into a house that instantly feels like home, it might be because of all the love, family and community that dwells inside. For 20 years Judy Sexton has made a home out of the Bread Basket Cafe in Danville and, with the help of her daughter JinAyla Bollman, this home has become the heart of their family and a pillar of their community. 

It has been an inspiring journey for this mother-daughter team, one driven by passion, family values, and commitment to quality. 

When Sexton was in her 20s she worked at her father’s restaurant where she learned everything from washing dishes and cooking to payroll; she did it all. But as much as she enjoyed restaurant work she never thought she would work in the restaurant business again once she started a family. 

Thirty years later and in her 50s, with her kids grown and off to college, she found herself questioning her sense of purpose. It wasn’t until she started praying and asking what she was supposed to do with her life that she found her path. Immediately the doors started opening. “It’s been a faith walk all along,” Sexton says.

In a small space in Coatesville, she started serving lunch and dinner to hone her skills. Often working 20 hours a day, she was the baker, the cook, and the manager. The town was too small to support them so Sexton set up a booth at the Farmers Market in Danville to see how well her goods would be received there.

Along with running the restaurant, Sexton and Bollman would spend the summer baking miniature cakes, called “Baby Cakes”, and miniature pies, a.k.a. “Sweetie Pies”, cinnamon rolls, and breads to take to market on Saturdays.

It was so successful in drawing business to their restaurant that they saw potential in opening a restaurant in Danville. Sexton immediately found a bare-bones space in Danville for a couple of years as she searched for the perfect location.

Doors continued to open for Sexton as she was offered their current space by one of her loyal patrons at the Farmers Market. The house was in a bad state of repair but when renovations were offered as part of the lease agreement she wholeheartedly accepted.

Meanwhile, Bollman graduated college at the height of the financial crisis. She started helping out in the restaurant,  and the longer she worked with her mom, the more it felt like a perfect fit. “This wasn’t my plan,” she says, “but I did go to school for business and was as well trained to step into something like this.” 

“I have two little girls and I get to bring them to work with me. They get to be integrated into my life in a way that most working moms don’t get to have their kids. I’m so happy to do this and it’s been a blessing.” 

From the beginning they’ve leaned into connections they made at the Farmers Market and are able to source fresh produce all summer long and have growers plant specifically for their needs. Stanford Farm and Neier Farm out of Coatesville supply fresh-picked produce in season. One Amish farmer finishes the farmers market in Danville on Saturdays and drives directly to the Bread Basket. “Their driver brings their trailer down here and opens the backup, and I get to go into their trailer and take whatever I want,” Sexton beams. 

They work with local egg producers like Seymour Family Farm and Meadowbrook Family Farm to try to meet their need for 60-80 dozen eggs per week. Mill Creek School FFA grows lettuces and kale for them in their hydroponic program as well. 

“Relationships, that’s what it’s all about,” says Sexton. 

“And that’s true with our staff too,” says Bollman. “We have the most incredible group of people that work for us. We have about 40 people and we have a lot of families involved too. They are able to help take care of our customers in a way that feels special.” 

And it’s true. The Bread Basket Cafe does feel special. From the moment you walk in, you feel like you are stepping back to a time when quality and service were what mattered most. 

“We always put a lot of heart into what we do,” says Bollman, “and everything’s handmade, but it takes a lot to do that well, and we’ve always had great support from the community.”

And when all you want on a wintry day is some comfort; a cozy place to settle in for a bit, a friendly smile, and some good food, this place is pure magic. You can feel the warmth and smell the bread baking and immediately feel at home. 

With house-baked breads, generous portion sizes, and the freshest available produce, the breakfast and lunch menus bring with them a sense of nostalgia. Famous for its decadent Cinnamon Roll French Toast, delicious pies with animal cracker crusts, and entirely from-scratch menu, you will find it challenging to decide which menu items to order.  

Admittedly what they do is very labor intensive. But Bollman and Sexton do not believe in sacrificing quality for financial gain. If that were the goal they would have stopped a long time ago. 

“Just hearing our customers say their meal was so good or to see a first-time customer’s surprise makes it all worth it,” says Sexton.

“It’s just the feeling of community that we have here,” adds Bollman. “I feel like my cup is full just coming and being around and being in the environment, getting to be a part of our staff’s day-to-day life.”