Sarah Polifka likes to think that everything happens for a reason. Polifka’s journey to owning and operating the locally famous Hays business known as ANDBakery took courage, acceptance, faith, and a lesson in timing. Ultimately, Polifka’s patience, perseverance, and acceptance that sometimes the timing just isn’t right, has led to what is arguably the most delicious spot on wheels in Northwest Kansas.
A mobile bakery in Hays, ANDBakery specializes in cheesecakes and macarons, but offers an array of confections. Polifka makes all her recipes from scratch, and it could be argued that some of her special ingredients are a whole lot of experience, love, and grit.
The name ANDBakery is as unique as the bakery’s story, and perfectly describes the mission of the bakery. According to Polifka, “ANDBakery is a conjunctive word- it connects things, connects people and ingredients…and makes memories.” After all, those are Polifka’s goals, and she operates her bakery accordingly.
The journey to ANDBakery’s present existence is an interesting one. Originally, the business began in 2012 on Main Street in Hays in the former Dwayne’s Designs building. Polifka had always had a dream of owning a cheesecake bar, and the death of a close friend ultimately led to the opportunity arising for Polifka to have her own store.
Not 100% sure the timing was right, yet sure that she wanted to follow her dream, Polifka rented the building and opened under the name Chestnut Street Kitchens. She offered a large selection of coffee beans and other items that Dwane had cherished. “It was a leap of faith! If there ever was a good opportunity this was it and we dove in,” she explained.
Off and rolling, for several years, ultimately Polifka decided she needed a change of pace, and she sold the business in 2015.
According to the business Facebook page, “Most people have business plans, maybe save money and have that passion for opening a new business before they embark on such a journey. We had a wish, a prayer and very supportive friends and family. While CSK was successful and there were a lot of things I enjoyed (meeting new people and making new friends) the negative outweighed the positive in the end.”
Closing the doors to her business in no way diminished her life of baking, or desire to bake. After a bit of a break from making her baking a business, Polifka decided to take another leap of faith. In 2016, she had a licensed kitchen installed in her home, and purchased a 1960 Wini Mini travel trailer to sell her goods out of.
Now, Polifka operates solely as a mobile bakery, baking in her home but selling out of the trailer. She takes orders, posts products and upcoming baking on her Facebook page, and participates seasonally in the Downtown Hays Market.
One peek at the ANDBakery Facebook page, or one visit to the mobile unit, and it will be clear to see just how amazing Polifka’s confections truly are. She states that cheesecakes are her speciality, but she also crafts a variety of other goods, and they are ALL amazing. She tweaks recipes to make them her own, and everything is homemade- “No box mixes- it’s all from scratch,” said Polifka.
The business keeps her incredibly busy. Polifka is taking orders, cranking them out, packaging them, washing the dishes, and repeating the process- seven days a week.
While it is a ton of work, Polifka has found her stride and thoroughly enjoys what she does, stating, “The best part of owning the bakery is being part of everybody’s lives on special occasions, and hearing stories where I get to be a part of it.”
Be sure to “like” the ANDBakery Facebook page to keep an eye out for what and when Polifka will be baking, to snag yourself some of her deliciousness. After all, ANDBakery is on a mission to bringpeopleANDingredientstogetherANDmore- and Polifka would love for you to be a part of that mission.
