North County Artisan Bakery Adding Downtown Encinitas Outpost

A favorite at farmers’ markets throughout San Diego including the Little Italy Mercato and La Jolla Open Aire market as well as select restaurants, Prager Brothers Artisan Breads got its start in Encinitas in 2012, when brothers Clinton and Louie Prager launched their bread-making business by borrowing Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizza’s wood-fired oven during off hours.

The Carlsbad natives eventually established a bakery and retail facility in the Carlsbad Gateway Center, which features indoor and outdoor seating areas and offers a wide selection of all-organic baked goods crafted with old world traditions, from naturally-fermented loaves made with fresh-milled rye and spelt flour to baguettes and pretzels, as well as grab and go sandwiches and a large range of viennoiserie, a category of pastries that include brioche, danishes, and croissants.

The bakery is expanding its presence in North County with a new location on South Coast Highway in the heart of coastal Encinitas. The 1,300-square-foot space will have a large counter to display its full range of over 50 different products. This outpost will focus on takeaway business; since there is no seating, it will be modeled after a European-style bakery where customers stop in for a daily baguette or afternoon pastry.

Although baking won’t be done on site initially, co-founder Louie Prager told Eater that ovens may be added in the future. He said the shop will likely be open by January or February.