In Watertown, where an armed band of neo-Nazis disrupted Pride in the Park last summer, a lesbian-owned bakery is quietly changing hearts and minds one rainbow cookie at a time. Under the direction of pastry chef April Chandler and her wife Charity Chandler, Chandler House Bakery has become known not just for treats like chocolate chip cookies, carrot cake muffins, chocolate cupcakes, and “next level” cheesecake slices, but also as a space where neighbors and elected officials alike can grab a favorite goodie or linger over a game of checkers.
“We always say that love is the first ingredient in everything we make, because it’s the most important thing in everything we do,” said Charity, whose professional background is in DEI and marketing, though she likes to play in the kitchen, too. “And we do seek to be a gathering space and a safe space for folks. We are not shy about rainbows everywhere.”
Raised in Watertown, Charity returned to settle there with her wife five years ago. Yet they never planned to open a bakery, much less one housed in the very building where Charity and her grandmother enjoyed baked goods in days past.
But when Covid hit, April found the opportunity to share her love of baking with the couple’s social media followers from their own home kitchen. Demand was greater than expected, and before they knew it, they were able to open a brick-and-mortar business downtown. To be clear, that involved hours of working two jobs until April could quit her day job running the retail cafes at Children’s Hospital, and launching first through the Watertown Market Kitchen.
“I had never even allowed it to be a dream,” April said. With experience as a professionally trained pastry chef in high-end restaurants, April knew well what opening an establishment and keeping it afloat would entail.
“And when I started this, what I had called a creative outlet in 2020, it’s truly what it was,” she continued. Certainly, the online menus of staples and unique creations point to her skill and artistic talent. (Buffalo plaid cake, anyone?) The bakery caters as well, but regulars keep coming back for favorites like blueberry streusel muffins, anything involving lemon, and the all-important chocolate chip cookie.
“It’s pretty amazing to see just how many people every weekend will walk in just to buy your chocolate chip cookie,” April said.
“One or a dozen,” Charity noted.
However, it wasn’t the promise of sweet treats that brought in some special visitors not too long ago. On their way to a nearby roller rink for a child’s birthday party, state Rep Francesca Hong and her son were attracted to the bakery’s welcoming decor.
“When they came in together, she said, ‘I saw the rainbow flag sticker on your door, and I thought this would be a place that we could spend time that would be inclusive.’” Charity recalled. They took photos, but the Chandlers didn’t make the connection until after Hong and her son stayed to chat. Charity is involved in local politics as well; she was running for school board at the time they stopped in.
Customers consistently attest to the friendliness of the space in online reviews. “Yes, you need to have good food for people to continue to come back to,” Charity said. “But at the end of the day, we want people to feel special.”
At the time of this interview, plans were underway for Watertown’s third annual Pridefest. The event was held July 27 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ with no protesters in sight; a sign of progress. And while Charity’s bid for elected office was unsuccessful, “It showed me that while we’re not as far as I would like Watertown to be, there were really a lot of folks that were incredibly supportive,” she said.
April and Charity are not shy about who they are as individuals, business owners, and members of the Watertown community. They refer to each other as wives and proudly belong to the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce. They also believe in supporting causes they care about: In just the past year, Chandler House Bakery was able to donate $12,000 to causes involving education, animal welfare, and veterans via matching tips and personal and business donations.
And if the Chandlers have any qualms about being partners both in marriage and in business, one would never know it.
“Honestly, we’ve been referred to as a power couple more than once,” said April, whose life with Charity includes five cats and a Subaru. “We complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. So in areas where I’m not as strong, Charity can pick up my slack. And I know that this business would not be what it is today, and it wouldn’t be as successful if it weren’t for Charity.”
Charity concurred, “And not just because I like to agree with my wife,” she said. “Yes, I love my wife. But the fact that I really just enjoy spending time with her, it’s so incredibly crucial.”
Chandler House Bakery celebrates two years at 411 E. Main Street in Watertown this fall, a time of pumpkin pie and caramel apples.
“I created memories with my grandma in this building, and that’s what we seek to do now,” Charity said. “Hopefully, these kids 20, 30 years from now will remember coming in and getting bakery from us.”
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