New bakery to tempt
noses and break diets
all over downtown

It is fair to say the fragrance of baking pastries and breads will be challenging for even the staunchest carb-eschewers.

The bakery's venting "sends the aroma all over the street," said owner Adam Wong.

The store will open at 6:30 a.m., selling pastries. The pastry crew will have been there since 2 a.m.

"Then the breadmakers start at 4 a.m. and the first bread will be ready at 9 o'clock," Wong said as he was preparing for last night's opening preview party for family and friends.

Great Harvest's best-selling pastries, scones, start at $1.95 and cinnamon rolls sell for $2.25. Its most popular bread, a 37-ounce loaf of honey-whole wheat bread, sells for $4.50; a three-cheese and garlic bread sells for $6.50; and the highest-priced, a white chocolate and cherry bread, sells for $8.75.

Bread and pastry varieties change daily and schedules can be picked up in the new store, the flagship bakery at 4400 Kalanianaole Highway in Kahala, or online.

Great Harvest also has a full espresso bar serving Peet's Coffee & Tea and will offer sandwiches at lunch as well as breakfast and lunch catering for area businesses.

Wong plans to expand westward and windward, having secured partners to operate the stores. Lease negotiations are "looking very promising" for a site between Aiea and Pearl City and hunting for a Kailua location is underway.

The possibility of expanding too rapidly does concern him, but that's where the partners come in. "They're going to be owner-operators."

"That's the way our business and our concept works; it only works with the owner in the store all the time ... like a neighborhood bakery where you know the owner and he talks to you," Wong said.