Bakery is Humphrey's Newest Endeavor

By Teresa Paul, Correspondent

The owner of Humphrey's Market has a sweet idea for improving the neighborhood at 15th and Ash streets. In August, Humphrey will open a bakery at 2028 S. 15th St., a site formerly occupied by Watkins Products. It will operate under a rather functional name: The Bakery.

Henry Humphrey Jr., owner and operator of Humphrey's Market, said his plan to open a bakery has two purposes: to bring a good bakery to the area and to help make the neighborhood around 15th and Ash streets more attractive.

"Humphrey's Market has been in the neighborhood since 1932," Humphrey said. "Our business has been very consistent over the years. In the last decade, there has been a little change in the neighborhood. We have lost quite a lot of the older people in the neighborhood. We now have mostly younger people moving in and rental homes."

Although the location has a few challenges, such as customers not being able to get off 15th Street onto Ash Street, he said, "I thought, ‘Do I just turn a blind eye or do I get involved? What do I do?' " he said.

Humphrey also purchased the property at 2023 S. 15th St. Initially, he rented it but then decided to open a pizza restaurant called The Pizzeria in October 2007.

"The property for The Pizzeria became available and then we purchased it," he said. "I tried to rent it out for some time, but I didn¹t find someone that I felt would be a positive for the neighborhood. I started brainstorming as to what would promote family atmosphere and traffic that would enhance the neighborhood and not detract from our store," Humphrey said. "We came up with The Pizzeria. It's going really good."

While The Pizzeria was a good addition to the neighborhood, there was still something missing.

"We had people that said, ‘You can buy your groceries, have a sandwich for lunch and have dinner at The Old Luxemburg Inn, but you can't get fresh bread, baked goods and pastry items around here'," he said.

Humphrey, who once owned a bakery, thought a bakery would be the next logical business to bring to the neighborhood. So Humphrey gave it some thought for the former Watkins building.

"I just started getting information and collecting information from people in the neighborhood, getting the word out," he said. "I started to move on the project. There was a former restaurant in The Bakery and some of the kitchen was there. We are two months away from The Bakery being ready.

"At The Bakery we are going to make our own doughnuts from scratch, pastries, cakes, pies and fresh bread," he said. "We are going to have breakfast and lunch, and we are going to feature our fresh bread sliced with steamed meat. It's not heavy, but a hearty meal and not fattening."

The Humphreys are buying the properties and doing the renovation by themselves with no help from lenders or other parties.

"One thing that is very promising to me is we still have some older people in the neighborhood and young people alike," Humphrey said. "They come to the store and they thank us for what we have done. The whole entire intersection, the north, south, east and west is really changing for the better. They tell us that they appreciate it."

The grocery store has been in the Humphrey family for four generations. "My dad was recently in the hospital," he said. "People at the hospital were thanking my dad for what he's done to the neighborhood. We know that it is making a difference, and that makes it all worthwhile."

The Humphreys also purchased an old filling station a year ago with the intention of one day renovating it. It was previously rented and is currently available for rent.

"We are doing some repairs and a complete paint job in the next two weeks," he said. "We will be complete with the renovation in about a month. It has a garage lift. It is a very functional garage.

"The building has never been vacant, but has really needed some renovation," Humphrey said. "We had thought about turning it into a Route 66 filling station museum. I don't know if it could support itself. Whatever happens in that building is going to enhance our neighborhood or it won't be there. "I also have someone who is interested in the house that is on the other corner that is a story and a half," he said. "That someone has an idea about a combination antique and flower shop, but I don't know yet. This house would be rented out for a possible business."

The Humphrey family appreciates all the support and patronage that they have received over the years. "We greatly appreciate all the new customers and the people from out of town that come to Springfield to visit," Humphrey said. "We have a real influx for some reason. I don't know if it is advertising, word of mouth or what. It's like we are being rediscovered. It's interesting. We really appreciate it."

Dennis Sanderfield, owner of the Old Luxemburg Inn restaurant at 1900 S. 15th St., said the improvements Humphrey has made have helped his business and the neighborhood.

"Henry has done a great job and cleaned up both corners," Sanderfield said. "The neighborhood totally looks different on 15th Street. I wish there were more people like him."

"The neighborhood is a little more diverse," Sanderfield said. "Henry would like to make it look like it did in the 1960s. Everything he has he takes care of. The people in the neighborhood are starting to take more care of their homes because of it."