06/07/2026
Gorham Public Record is proud to present its FIRST SMALL BUSINESS EXCLUSIVE FEATURE ARTICLE on KatesBakes LLC.
Thank you to the owner, Katie Wu, for taking the time to answer all of GPR's questions (listed below) and for her willingness to allow GPR to photograph her and her amazing creations.
GPR hopes its Followers will enjoy reading about Katie and KatesBakes LLC!
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EXCLUSIVE GPR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to open a bakery in Gorham?
My name is Katie Wu, I'm 34 years old, and I grew up here in Gorham. I work full time at the Omni Mount Washington as their Hospitality Retail Manager. I chose to open a bakery because it's a great way for me to share my skill with others. Good, quality products are so hard to find these days, and I figured if I'm going to spend time making quality items for myself, I may as well make enough to share. In addition, cooking and baking has always been fun stress relief for me. It is pure luck that I actually turned out to be any good at it. So, thoughts of someday opening a bakery/restaurant or just being able to provide my goods to people has been rolling around in my head for years.
2. Have you always loved baking, or was there a particular moment or person that sparked your passion for it?
I grew up surrounded by cooks and bakers. Maybe not by trade, but they most certainly had the skill. I remember watching my mother and my grandmother bake as a kid, and it was just kind of one of those things where I observed and learned from them. Cooking and baking was certainly my grandmother's love language, and through her I learned a different way to care for the people close to me. You can't fix everyone's problems, but you can make sure they have good food, a seat at your table, and a full belly.
3. What are the stories behind the name “KatesBakes” and your slogan "Made with butter, sarcasm, and questionable life choices"?
KatesBakes was just the name of my folder on Pinterest where I would save all the fun inspirational bakery dreams I had, that I made 14 years ago. I never truly intended for it to ever be more than that. Fast forward to this past December, I made a loaf of bread for a coworker one time and all the sudden I was getting requests left and right. So, I had to get serious and make sure people had a name to associate with the product. I thought for weeks on what I could call it, and nothing could beat the name of that Pinterest folder I had made all those years ago, and so, KatesBakes LLC was created. The slogan was just something I typed into my bio when I created the social media account. I think it's fun because if you know me at all you know that I live off sarcasm, and if you understand life at all, you know that we can't predict the future. So, all choices can feel questionable because we won't ever truly know the outcome in that moment. But somehow, we end up right where we were meant to.
4. What are some of your most popular items right now, including signature recipes or seasonal specialties?
Right now I'd say the top items are my Classic Sourdough Loaf, the Classic Whoopie Pies, Kates Kosmic Brownies, and our summer special S'Mores Chocolate Chip Cookie.
5. Do you offer custom orders, including larger quantities of items, or baked goods that are vegan, gluten-free, etc.?
I do take custom orders! You can order by Wednesdays at 5PM for pick up that following Friday or Saturday, I also keep order forms out at the bake stand that you can fill out and order for the following weekend. Large orders are welcome, but may require more time depending on the project
6. Have you experienced any start-up challenges, and what’s a typical business day like for you since you opened the roadside bake stand at 9 Hamlin Avenue?
Some of my biggest challenges so far is coming up with a schedule that works. I work full time so I do everything KatesBakes in my free time in the evenings and on my days off. My first weekend open I found myself baking straight through the night making sure everything was ready. I quickly learned that's not going to be the way to do it. So, in the past few weeks I've gotten a better grasp on what my prep and bake schedules look like and what I can do throughout the week to get me ready for big bake days. Operating days are the best because all the work is done! I can just concentrate on making the stand look good, and interacting with all of you that come out to show support!
7. As far as customer service: What are your current days and hours of operation? Is there a best time for customers to stop by? What payment methods do you accept?
Currently I am only open on Friday and Saturdays. This may change slightly in the near future but I will keep everyone updated through social media if and when that time comes. The stand is open from 9 AM until 8 PM both days. I would suggest coming earlier in the morning if you want to be able to pick from all of our options! We currently accept cash, Venmo, Paypal, and Apple Pay.
8. Are your baked goods also available at any local events, including the Gorham Farmers Market?
Right now you can find my sourdough bread at the Butchers Daughter. I unfortunately did not get into the farmers market this year, as I was unsure how I could fit that into my current schedule. My hopes are to be part of the Gorham Farmers Market in the summer of 2027.
9. What’s one memorable customer story or feedback that has meant a lot to you?
Honestly, I wouldn't be able to single out just one. The amount of people who have come out to show support has been absolutely amazing. So many of you have shown up, and continued to show up week after week. I can't begin to express the amount of gratitude I feel. Knowing I'm providing something good and real to you brings me joy, and the fact that you all are actually enjoying my products makes it all worth it.
10. What are your hopes or plans for KatesBakes in the coming year or two?
Right now the plan is to keep the stand open for the summer. Moving into weekly pre-orders for the winter season. Soon I will be certified for sales to restaurants, and I am hoping to get some of my products in with some other local businesses!
