Family Run Baked on Maine opens downtown Brunswick bakery emphasizing gluten-free brunch

Baked on Maine opened its doors in downtown Brunswick this winter, bringing a family-run bakery and weekend brunch concept to the former Great Impasta space on Maine Street. Owner Ned Horton, who also runs Mae’s Cafe and Wildflours Bakery, launched a soft opening on Dec. 29, 2025, and welcomed the public with an official opening on Jan. 2, 2026.

The new shop bills itself as Brunswick’s newest weekend brunch spot and operates Friday through Monday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., positioning itself to capture morning and midday foot traffic from residents, visitors, and students on break. The storefront occupies the end-of-block location vacated by The Great Impasta, giving the block a fresh retail face during a winter break period noted in local reporting. A promotional post on social media stated, "Baked on Maine opened its doors this month and is bringing new energy to downtown Brunswick with breakfast, lunch, and plenty of baked treats." A photo accompanying the opening carried the caption: "COOKING IT UP: Brunswick's newest brunch spot opened recently on Maine Street, bringing a fresh new look to the space formerly occupied by The Great Impasta from the same owner of local spots Mae's Cafe and Wildflours Bakery." Photo credit: Abigail Hebert.

Baked on Maine emphasizes gluten-free offerings, drawing on Horton’s experience with Wildflours Bakery, which specializes in gluten-free baking. The menu focus aims to serve customers with celiac disease as well as those who avoid gluten by preference. The emphasis on gluten-free options creates a market niche within Brunswick’s restaurant scene and represents an extension of Horton’s existing local food businesses, which can yield operational efficiencies and cross-promotion opportunities across his properties.

The shop is run as a close-knit, family operation. General manager Ryan Ballard oversees daily operations, while his daughter Jordan Ballard serves as front-of-house manager after previously working at Mae’s Cafe. Jordan’s brother is part of the kitchen staff. The family staffing model reduces hiring friction for a new small business and reinforces local ties that can matter for repeat Business in a downtown setting.

Baked on Maine has also launched a community-oriented initiative offering free coffee to first responders on snow days. "That was originally thought up by my dad," Ballard said. "We’re hoping to continue that on snow days when we’re able to keep our doors open." The program provides an immediate civic benefit during storms when many businesses close, and it can generate goodwill that supports long-term customer relationships.

For Sagadahoc County readers, the arrival of Baked on Maine signals a modest economic infill on Maine Street and a dietary niche now represented among local dining options. The bakery’s weekend schedule and gluten-free positioning will determine how much market share it captures among morning customers and Bowdoin-area traffic; local residents can expect a new regular option for breakfast, lunch, and baked goods and a visible example of small business resilience during winter months.