Just Days Before Opening, Fire Rips Through Bakery

Just days before Slow To Rise bakery was supposed to open in its new location on Cherry Street, a fire gutted the interior of the small building Sunday morning, indefinitely postponing its opening. The building was unoccupied, and no one was injured as firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze.

The Nantucket Fire Department was alerted to "a possible structure fire" around 6:17 a.m. Sunday morning, according to Deputy Fire Chief Timothy Vamosi.

"Initial reports stated heavy smoke was coming from the building," Vamosi said. "Our crews quickly gained access to the building, stretched a line, and extinguished the fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The building was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Damage was contained to the seat of the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation."

Slow To Rise Bakery has been preparing to open at the location for weeks, but the fire dashed those plans.

"For all asking, we are safe and there were no injuries as the building was unoccupied when the fire started," Slow To Rise Bakery owners Tucker Puljic and Katrina Newfrock wrote in a post on their Instagram story. "There is a significant amount of smoke damage, and we are not sure how much needs to be replaced yet. Devastating.

Puljic and Newfrock, both 2020 graduates of Johnson & Wales' culinary program, founded Slow To Rise Bakery on Nantucket three years ago after relocating from Darien, Conn.

The bakery has moved around to various island locations, including Pip & Anchor, the downtown Farmers & Artisans Market, and the former commercial kitchen behind Small Friends - and they've also sold their goods directly online.