Meet Sami Gustafson | Founder and Executive Pastry Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sami Gustafson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Sami, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I grew up in a house where my dad owned his own business. I was always around that type of life and that was the model of work in my childhood. I saw a missing piece of the market in many places I have lived in the past, and thought I could fill that niche. A place with desserts, beer and wine that was open past two pm. That didn’t exist in many of the places I have lived. So I thought, why not me! What do I have to lose. I am such a community and people driven person that the thought of creating my own space to create a place for other people was my driving force.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Retreat Bakery Bar started as my fresh-out-of-culinary-school day dream while I ran rack after rack of dishes and made hundreds of hand-rolled truffles (and loved every minute of it!). Fifteen years later, I’m nearly three years in to the little corner of my community that is Retreat Bakery Bar. What sets Retreat apart from others is a couple of things, I think. We make classic European desserts and pastries with a more modern and American flavor profile, using only the highest quality ingredients and never wavering on our quality standards. We made everything in house from scratch, and we are the only bakery open late where you can also get a local pint or a glass of wine with your dessert. What I’m most proud of is the sense of belonging and community we’ve created. The journey to get where I am today has definitely not been easy. In the early days, I was the only pastry chef and I was regularly working 2am to 4pm without even sitting down for even a minute, 6-7 days a week. We started as a two-owner business, and now I am the sole owner of the Bakery. Inflation and price hikes on literally everything (ingredients, utilities, packaging, labor, etc) have made stabilizing nearly impossible, it’s a constantly moving target which requires constant vigilance. The only way to “overcome” the challenges (which I honestly don’t actually believe is possible in restaurant ownership at this time) is to just persevere. It doesn’t really get easier, you just learn to be less shocked every time something new comes down the line and you adapt. At my core, I believe in connection, vulnerability, and transparency which is how I approach being a business owner, a manager, and a member of my community. My team and my customers see my hard work and my pride in the bakery, and I share as much of myself and my life with them as I can. I own my mistakes (whether it’s to an employee or to a customer) and I’m genuine in connecting with the people in my community on a real, human level which I believe has allowed people to see me and the bakery as a genuine place for real people to gather and be exactly who they are, experiencing whatever they are experiencing in life. We’ve celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, surgeries, recoveries, and lives with our treats and that is the single reason I opened Retreat and the reason I’m able to constantly endure the hardest days.
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.
A week staycation with my best friend? Sounds amazing! Fort Collins is known for its bevvy of beer options, so a brewery tour or two would definitely be on the list. The patio of Odell is pretty pristine on a sunny day, and it offers wine for people who don’t favor beer. We would head to Jessup Farmhouse for dinner one night for sure, it is quaint and delicious. Walking around Old Town would have to take up a few hours on a sunny afternoon, there are so many cute shops and places to poke around. Depending on the season, we would venture up to Horsetooth Reservoir for a paddle boarding session, the views from the water are pretty stunning. I love the small town vibe of Fort Collins in that you likely will see someone you know wherever you go. Being in the restaurant industry increases these chances, so I would love to show off the kind and welcoming vibe of this big-little town.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My children, who have been part of my business in every stage, more than anyone else. I love you!
Website: https://www.retreatbakerybar.com/
Instagram: retreatbakerybar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/retreatbakerybar
Image Credits
ELM Photography Foco