- Established: 2021
- Owners: Kathryn Elder
- Employees: 6
- Services: bakery
- 129 S. John St.
- 217-498-1354
Kathryn Elder opened Mockingbird Bakery on May 21, 2021, named for one of her favorite books, To Kill a Mockingbird.
“It had been a dream of mine to open a bakery and coffee shop for the previous 10 years since moving to Rochester,” she said. “I have a passion for baking and thought Rochester needed a gathering space for the community.”
Once ready to make her dream a reality, Elder pursued a mastery in baking. She earned certificates in both patisserie and baking from Le Cordon Bleu Texas Culinary Academy, then completed an internship at the prestigious Colette’s Cakes in New York City and landed a position decorating cakes alongside professional cake maker Milette Raz at Alliance Bakery in Chicago.
Mockingbird Bakery is a from-scratch bakery that also serves local coffee and is a well-known reading nook. The business currently has three full-time and two part-time employees.
“Our friendly staff, local products and cozy atmosphere combine to make our space one where people in the community love to gather and slow down to enjoy life,” Elder said. “We love our community and our customers.”
This article appears in 15 Under Fifteen – 2025.