We first met in London while we were both attending art college. Since then, we've been together for 27 years, have three amazing kids and even have a grandson now. Talk about a full house!

While working a full-time construction job and raising three kids, we never let go of our passion for art. If you take a look around VanillaTree, you'll notice that almost all the artwork on our walls is either ours or our children's. 

 

 Our journey to VanillaTree began back in 2015, when I decided to try my luck at a farmers market. I started selling homemade baked goods, and that's when the idea of having a permanent place of our own started to take shape.

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The building that now houses VanillaTree used to be an empty space, once upon a time, it was a carpet shop. The wooden floor was hidden beneath a worn-out blue carpet, and the place was just one big empty canvas. Once we got the keys for the building, work began to make the place what it is today, everything was put together by us (mainly Martin), the shelves, the counter, the bench at the window... Most of our furniture is secondhand, and the artwork you see on display is either our own or created by talented local artists.

 

 Starting a business from scratch with no prior experience was no walk in the park. We faced countless challenges and had our fair share of ups and downs, but being able to do something that we love everyday got us through those hard days. and the support from the community of Bedford when we first opened was amazing! We've also been incredibly fortunate to have had amazing staff, both past and present, who have poured their hearts into making VanillaTree what it is today. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. Over the years, we've learned so much. We've perfected our bagel recipe and had the pleasure of meeting some truly incredible individuals. Our customers are simply the best, and we're fortunate to have regulars who have become dear friends.  It's truly fulfilling to witness people returning to us, not just for our scrumptious food and coffee, but because they feel genuinely welcomed and appreciated here.

 

We are so proud of what we have created and grateful for everyday we get to give you Bedfordians a freshly baked bagel and a big smile! We can't wait to see what the future holds for VanillaTree. 

 

Tree & Martin x
 

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