Batter Bakery Parts Ways with Square Meals, Will Reopen Down the Street

Changes are afoot at Batter Bakery and Square Meals, the dining duo that has shared a Polk Street space since 2011. The two businesses, which have always operated separately but side-by-side, are parting ways, as Batter Bakery moves down the street and Square Meals closes for good.

Luckily for neighborhood fans, Batter Bakery plans to move just down the street, to the intersection of Polk and Pine (1517 Pine Street) in a space directly next to Grubstake. Owner Jen musty told Eater that the move is the result of Square Meals' decision to close, leaving an empty space that Batter didn't need to fill. The new location is in a former tattoo shop, which requires a complete gutting and renovation, which will take several months.

"There's a lot going on there right now," said Musty. "It should be an exciting space to open." The new location will offer an expanded line of pastries with grab-and-go breakfast options, cakes and an expanded line of seasonal offerings, something their former small space had prevented. There will be a few additional savory items to fill the gap left by Square Meals, such as quiches, frittatas and salads, but Musty says she plans to stay true to the bakery's roots and focus on traditional baked goods. Plus, the new bakery will offer espresso drinks in addition to the drip coffee they've always served.

Another byproduct of the move will be an expanded offering of baking classes, which had previously been limited to cookie decoration. Now Musty hopes to offer more in-depth offerings to would-be bakers, including desserts and cakes.

"We've been in a shared space for so long that we want to make sure that people realize that even though square is closing, batter is booming and healthy and we will still be going full steam," said Musty. In the meantime, Batter's original kiosk will remain open, as well as their stall at the Saturday farmer's market at the Ferry Building. The upcoming renovations will take several months, so stay tuned for an opening in late Spring.