Meet Jan Kratzer | Owner – Baker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jan Kratzer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The restaurant industry is a fast-paced environment, which can make finding mentors and opportunities for growth a challenge. After hitting a dead-end in my quest for advancement in restaurant management, I decided to reinvent myself. I had previously experienced success with a small pie business a few years prior, so when the opportunity arose to take over a pizza-by-the-slice shop that had closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I jumped at the chance. At first, I didn’t have a clear plan, but I knew that opening a bakery was something I needed to do. Opportunities don’t wait.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
After dropping out of business school, I completed a three-year apprenticeship as a restaurant professional in Austria. Although I have always loved cooking, I quickly realized that restaurant kitchens were not my cup of tea. While working at a restaurant in Switzerland, I discovered my passion for cocktails while picking up bar shifts. After attending a bartending school in London, I realized the potential of creating flavors with drinks and was able to work at two LHW Hotels, one in Scotland and the other in Vail, Colorado.

However, during the process of immigrating to the USA, I had to be quite creative in how I paid for rent, as I was unable to legally work for almost three years. This experience put a new perspective on life and made me more eager to achieve something for myself.

Looking back now, I realize how valuable the difficult times in my personal and professional life were. It’s important to learn from your mistakes, as well as the mistakes of others. I’ve come to understand that if I’m unhappy, it’s best to move on. Countless opportunities are out there waiting to be seized, as long as you’re willing to work for them.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Denver has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to food and culture, but many amazing people are working to make their dreams come true and share their love of food. For Italian food, Luca in Capitol Hill and Tavernetta at Union Station are great options. For Ramen, Uncle is a must-visit, and for Diner/Bar Food, Steubens or Bull and Bush are worth checking out. If you’re looking for a hole-in-the-wall place for lunch, Moxi Eatery in the Baker neighborhood is a hidden gem.

Denver is a hub for beer, with over 300 breweries to choose from. My personal favorite is Bruz Beers, an internationally recognized Belgium Style Brewery. Cerebral Brewing is a great choice for IPA experiments and Zuni Street Brewing is known for their live music and food trucks.

Our bakery is located in the Dairy Block Alley of LoDo (lower downtown neighborhood), which is filled with many amazing small businesses. BRUTO has recently received one of the first Michelin stars in Colorado, and Blanchard Family Wines is a beautiful spot for a wine flight. Grab a coffee at Penelope Coffee Bar and finish off with a cocktail at Deviation Distillery. The best part is that you can enjoy all of these experiences and then take a short walk over to the Rockies Stadium to catch a baseball game.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am grateful to a few individuals in my life who have contributed to my success. I owe a debt of gratitude to my former bosses, who are now my friends, for having faith in me and guiding me towards new opportunities that have helped me grow. Walter, Ariana, Linda, Frank, and Jacqueline, I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for me.

But most of all, I want to express my gratitude to all my colleagues and friends in the restaurant industry, who support my business every single day. Your encouragement and support are invaluable to me, and I am truly lucky to have them in my life.

Website: www.lodoughbakery.com

Instagram: Lodough_Bakery

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lodough-bakery-denver

Other: https://dairyblock.com/