Hannah Minks is most commonly known as one of Hoban’s theology teachers, but is also the sole owner of The Monastic Home bakery
in Canal Fulton. Minks came up with the idea for her bakery to nurture both her mother’s love of baking and her own aspirations of fostering community.
“The bake shop was a way to marry my own creativity and desire to connect with people, along with my mom being able to fulfill a dream of hers as well,” Minks said.
Because of her love for theology, Minks designed her bakery to resemble the essence of a monastery: peaceful, simplistic and hospitable.
“But you don’t need to become a monk to be monastic,” said Minks.
Unlike traditional coffee shops that foster a work environment, The Monastic Home has no WiFi, giving customers the chance to escape the stress of a busy world. Minks values building relationships and approaches business from a relational perspective. The Monastic Home’s bakery is only open on Saturdays, opening at 9 a.m. and closing once all the baked goods have been sold. This has become a weekly ritual for most customers.
“The bakery is a very intentional space,” said regular customer and science teacher James Mulholland, “It’s almost like walking into your grandmother’s home as a kid.”
In addition to being open once a week, the menu is always changing. At the beginning of every week, Minks plans for the upcoming menu, always returning fan favorites.
“The pop tarts are bussing,” regular customer John Laubacher said.
Balancing work life as a theology teacher “But it’s all worth it,” Minks said. “It’s been shocking to me, the number of people who graduated last year and come to the shop regularly. It’s sweet to see that I walk with them throughout their Hoban years and we have these meaningful relationships, and to see that there’s been a space for those relationships to land and continue in lovely ways that I wouldn’t have expected, is just so meaningful,” Minks said.
patrons with welcoming feng shui
before 9 a.m. opening. PHOTO
COURTESY OF HANNAH MINKS
