In this episode of South End Stoop Sessions, Cate Brinch sits down with Joanne Chang, founder of Flour Bakery + Cafe and co-owner of Myers & Chang. Joanne shares how a chance encounter led her to open the first Flour location in the South End in 2000, long before the neighborhood became what it is today. She reflects on taking early risks, building strong relationships with landlords and mentors, and growing a business without a roadmap.

The conversation traces the evolution of Flour from a single bakery to a multi-location operation, exploring leadership, team development, and learning when to step back. Joanne also discusses community giving, sourcing decisions, and the lessons she's learned about communication, trust, and building a business that can grow beyond its founder.

Key Points From This Episode:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:39) Joanne Chang on how she introduces herself and her early role in the South End

(00:01:13) Finding the original Flour location through chance and personal connections

(00:01:49) The state of the South End in 1999 and why opening there was a gamble

(00:03:37) What Washington Street looked like before development and transit improvements

(00:05:19) Choosing the location based on affordability, landlord support, and practicality

(00:06:22) The importance of landlord relationships when opening a brick-and-mortar business

(00:07:22) Early customers, hospital workers, and building a local customer base

(00:08:34) How customer expectations influenced Flour's product sizing and offerings

(00:09:18) Establishing core baked goods that remain on the menu today

(00:10:14) Advice from Gordon Hamersley and the decision to add sandwiches

(00:11:06) Mentors who shaped Joanne's early career and business approach

(00:11:26) The real story behind opening Myers & Chang

(00:14:36) Opening a second Flour location to support team growth

(00:16:08) Hiring well and learning to step out of the way

(00:16:54) The challenge of managing multiple locations and evolving leadership roles

(00:18:28) Letting go of daily production and trusting the team

(00:19:09) Collaborative sourcing and product decisions

(00:19:45) Joanne's everyday breakfast and approach to quality control

(00:21:32) Flour's mission-driven commitment to giving back

(00:22:49) Key community partners and long-term charitable focus

(00:24:35) Where Joanne spends most of her time today

(00:25:11) The unexpected Bobby Flay throwdown and its impact on Flour

(00:29:27) Running a business before online ordering and social media

(00:29:52) Favorite South End food memories

(00:30:18) Best-selling items at Flour and the origin of the Oreo

(00:31:28) Advice for aspiring bakery owners

(00:33:44) Reflections on leadership, clarity, and building a strong team

A big thank you to our founding sponsor M. Flynn Jewelry for supporting the show and being such an important part of the neighborhood. Visit them at 46 Waltham Street in Boston's South End.

Find out more about Joanne's story and Flour here: https://www.flourbakery.com/

Follow Flour Bakery & Cafe on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/flourbakeryandcafe/

Find out more about South End Business Alliance:

⁠⁠https://www.sebaboston.com/⁠⁠

Follow South End Business Alliance on IG:

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/southendbusiness⁠⁠

Find out more about South End Local:

⁠⁠https://www.southend-local.com/⁠⁠

Follow South End Local on IG:

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/southendlocal

In this premiere episode of South End Stoop Sessions, Cate Brinch sits down with Madeleine Brason, founder of Madeleine’s Candy Shop, to talk through the rapid growth of her South End storefront and the hands-on approach behind it. Madeleine shares how opening without a formal business plan led to unexpected demand, long lines, and a fast-moving learning curve.

The conversation explores how she curates candy from around the world, listens closely to customer feedback, and keeps the shop fresh through rotation and experimentation. Madeleine also breaks down launching as a solopreneur, bringing in family support, expanding into an ice cream window, and navigating permitting in Boston. Throughout the episode, she reflects on staying small by choice, building authentic relationships, and creating a neighborhood business rooted in joy, consistency, and community.

Key Points From This Episode:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:42) Introduction to Madeleine Brason and the early buzz around Madeleine's Candy Shop

(00:02:00) Creating a business without a formal plan and resisting a single niche

(00:03:13) Sourcing candy globally and rotating inventory to keep offerings fresh

(00:04:16) Using customer suggestions to shape product selection

(00:05:18) Best-selling candies and how customer recommendations drive discovery

(00:06:06) The flat-price candy bag model and signature chopsticks

(00:07:27) Handling branding, packaging, and design independently using Canva

(00:07:57) Launching as a solopreneur and realizing the need for help

(00:09:08) Family support, rapid hiring, and scaling operations after opening

(00:10:25) Hosting events and collaborating with brands and organizations

(00:10:44) The Chelsea Park pop-up collaboration and managing large crowds

(00:12:31) Supporting sports teams, concerts, and corporate events

(00:13:39) Why brands reach out organically without outbound sales

(00:14:26) Seasonal demand differences between Halloween and Valentine's Day

(00:15:54) Adding an ice cream window after expanding into the neighboring space

(00:17:21) Navigating Boston permitting and learning on the fly

(00:17:56) Launching ice cream flavors and learning operations from scratch

(00:18:45) Designing a streamlined ice cream experience to avoid decision paralysis

(00:19:55) Requests, trends, and the rise of candy shops nationwide

(00:21:00) Choosing to stay small and remain deeply hands-on

(00:23:24) Starting the business at age 29 and taking action without waiting

(00:23:53) Why the South End was the only location that made sense

(00:26:28) Merch plans, embroidery details, and future gear

(00:26:58) Where to find Madeleine's Candy Shop and how to stay connected

A big thank you to our founding sponsor M. Flynn Jewelry for supporting the show and being such an important part of the neighborhood. Visit them at 46 Waltham Street in Boston's South End.

Madeleine’s Candy Shop:

https://www.madeleinescandyshop.com/our-story

Find out more about South End Business Alliance:

⁠https://www.sebaboston.com/⁠

Follow South End Business Alliance on IG:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/southendbusiness⁠

Find out more about South End Local:

⁠https://www.southend-local.com/⁠

Follow South End Local on IG:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/southendlocal