Bridge Street Local is a bakery, specialty home goods boutique, gourmet food emporium and art gallery packed with delicious treats and local charm

By Patricia Nugent

Equal parts bakery, specialty home goods boutique, gourmet food emporium and art gallery, Susan Scheutzow opened Bridge Street Local in Berea Commons last spring with the hopes of spotlighting local artists and artisans.

The darling shop comes with a serendipitous origin story.

Two weeks before last Christmas, Susan, who is an attorney for Southwest General Hospital and 20-year resident of Berea, walked into what was a cupcake shop.

“I thought it was adorable,” she says. “When the owner said she was closing to go back to school, I decided to listen to the universe and called the landlord the next day. He said it was available and I said I’d take it.”

After several months of cleaning, painting and planning, she opened Bridge Street Local in May. With red brick floors and a natural oak slab in the bakery, the space harkens back to the rustic charm of downtown Berea.

Mind-Blowing Signature Cookies
An avid baker, Susan experimented with her favorite recipe for stuffed peanut butter and jelly cookies over the years, perfecting it for her dear grandson.

“It’s quite labor-intensive,” she says.

Like every patron who walks through the doors, Susan gave me a cheerful greeting and offered me a sample of a PB&J cookie. It lived up to the hype and then some, bringing me back to beloved elementary school lunches.

Another to-die-for cookie is the S’more, which is a graham cracker and chocolate cookie stuffed with marshmallows.

In addition to the variety of cookies, the full-service bakery serves cream puffs, savory hand pies, biscotti, breads, wraps, salads and Susan’s divine recipe for gluten-free granola. Look for soups to join the menu soon.

“With the holidays coming, we also plan to do custom cookie trays and specials on cream puffs for parties,” she says.

Food, Art, Gifting
For Susan, who dabbles in fiber art, weaving and spinning, a goal of the store is to feature local fine artists to get their work in the eyes of the public for purchase. Her walls are lined with breathtaking watercolors, landscape and portrait paintings and photography, framed and unframed.

Other items you’ll find include glass-blown sculptures, greetings cards, silk-painted scarves, pottery, jewelry, kitchenware, teapots, soaps and bath products, fancy embellished handbags, candles, serving dishes, and a large display of kitchen towels with hysterically funny quotes on them, such as, “Does refusing to go to the gym count as resistance training?”

She says her favorite part of customers’ visits is when they grab a cookie, then walk around the shop, stopping at the towel display to have a laugh.

“Nearly everything in the shop could be a thoughtful hostess gift,” she says. “One of our most popular lines are Modgy vases fashioned from collapsible plastic that fill to look like a glass vase when you add water.”

“Our purpose is simple: to be the go-to destination where everyone, regardless of budget, can discover a heartfelt gift that resonates. Whether it’s a decadent pastry, a handcrafted piece of art, or a unique treasure, every item embodies the essence of our community and celebrates the creativity of our local artisans. We’re the perfect blend of bakery, art, gifts, and community, Susan says.”

“Many of our goods celebrate Berea and Cleveland, from mugs to cutting boards in the shape of Ohio, and a section for Browns backers and OSU fans,” she says. “Gourmet foods have been popular, especially our organic tea line, locally harvested honey, muffin mixes, chocolates and sourdough breads, all made by local artisans. We also just brought in a line of jarred flavored pickles that are flying off the shelves.”

Savor the flavor, discover the art, gift with heart.

Bridge Street Local is located at 1 Berea Commons in Berea. Call 440-297-4148 or visit BridgeStreetLocal.com for more information.