Open Oven Brunch and Bakery opens on Church Street

Few people in Black Mountain were as excited as Stephanie and Steven Paulson on Oct. 24, as the couple opened the doors to Open Oven Brunch and Bakery on Church Street. 

The Paulsons, who also owns popular food truck, Melt Your Heart, leased the property a year ago, and were eager to unveil their quaint breakfast eatery to the public.

Previously known as the Black Mountain Bakery, the property has been renovated to operate as a dine-in restaurant while maintaining its charm as an operating bakery.

Wood-paneled walls and light green accent benches contribute the overall rustic-chic aesthetic of Open Oven, while string lights illuminate the front patio and welcome hungry patrons.

The Paulsons, at their new eatery, offer staple breakfast options such as omelettes, waffles and Eggs Benedict, as well as traditional southern options like biscuits and gravy or shrimp and grits, which can include andouille sausage for a $2 surcharge.

Having relocated from Wisconsin 13 years ago, the couple aspired to continue their culinary professions and have been successful with their Melt Your Heart enterprise in Asheville; however, securing a site for a future restaurant was a different story.

After some difficulty leasing property in Asheville, the Paulsons set their sites on Black Mountain. The quaint town, proximity to the schools and demand for a breakfast restaurant in the immediate area, made the family consider it as a possible location.

“There is a sense of community here," Stephanie said. "I believe everything worked out the way it was supposed to.”

Open Oven Brunch & Bakery offers more than brunch. As the name suggests, it is also a working bakery.

French loafs and hot buns are fresh and ready at the bakery counter for hungry customers on the go.

Additionally, the charming yet narrow streets, customary to Black Mountain, are no problem for the new restaurant.

As an added convenience, the restaurant sits on Church Street, across from a public parking lot, so patrons can come and go with ease.