Baking Up a Safe Space

Tony Palmieri creates more than a bakery – he’s created a community where everyone can be themselves.

August 1, 2026

Tony Palmieri never planned to own another business.

After 22 years running a flower shop in Middletown, he had moved on to freelance work and set design. But he had always baked, a tradition passed down through generations of his family.

During COVID, Tony found peace and self-comfort in baking when he wasn’t doing yard work. He delivered food to his kids and friends and realized he was producing more than everyone could eat.

When restrictions began to ease, Tony decided to open a bakery. He started small, opening just two days a week in a space down the street from his current location.

“I used a lot of my family recipes and other things I just felt like making. I didn’t want to be tied to a specific menu every week. I wanted to be able to be creative,” says Tony. “It was wildly successful.”

Growing Beyond the Kitchen

By 2023, Tony had reached a turning point. The bakery was growing, but not quite enough to support another employee.

“I was at that awkward stage where I wasn’t making enough money to hire somebody, but I needed to hire somebody if I wanted to grow the business,” he explains.

He applied for a small business grant from the Middlesex County Revitalization Commission (MCRC) and received $11,250. The funding helped him purchase equipment, improve the storefront, and hire two part-time employees.

Those investments gave Tony’s Flour Shop the capacity to grow and convinced him it was time to think bigger. He found a lease for the bakery’s current location and invested his own money to build and outfit a second kitchen.

In 2025, Tony applied for another MCRC grant, which he planned to use for additional equipment and to hire more people. He was awarded nearly $23,000.

“I was shocked that we received funding the second time for the full amount I asked for,” he says. “The difference that has made to my business has been tremendous.”

With new equipment, Tony’s Flour Shop expanded into wholesale and brought on more staff. The bakery now has eight employees, several of them full-time.

“I don’t think I would have been able to grow beyond that first space without the help of these grants,” he says.

More Than a Bakery

The growth has enabled Tony to create the kind of space he envisioned from the beginning: a safe, welcoming place—particularly for the LGBTQ+ community, but ultimately for everyone.

“We’re a very queer-forward business,” Tony says. “The ability to create this safe space, this third space for everyone is huge for me—and for the community.”

Tony grew up in the town and shares that it didn’t feel safe to come out when he was a kid. Today, queer couples, transgender people, and all kinds of families with children share the space.

“The community we’re building here is incredible,” he emphasizes. “It feels like everything that I wanted for this community is really happening.”

One moment in particular showed Tony the impact the bakery has in the community. During a tea party celebrating a local author’s book launch, a family who had become familiar faces at the bakery arrived with their young son, who wore a tulle skirt for the occasion.

The next day, the boy’s mother returned, a little tearful.

“She told me how grateful she was that there was a space that she could go with her little boy where he could dress however he wanted without people staring or judging,” Tony recalls.

“That moment crystallized something for me,” he adds. “Creating a safe space for kids feels like a positive thing to do for someone’s self-esteem—giving people a space where they are welcome as they are.”

Another transgender customer who regularly visited the bakery brought Tony a watercolor that they had painted, along with a thank-you note for creating a space where they could feel relaxed.

For Tony, these moments are as significant as the business growth.

From Vision to Reality

What started as a small bakery has grown into the community space Tony envisioned—and that clear vision also helped with the grant application process.

“The process was simple, but answering the questions honestly and having a clear understanding of what I needed to accomplish my goal made all the difference,” Tony says.

His vision for Tony’s Flour Shop continues to evolve. Sales are up 18% from last year, and Tony recently hired two more people.

“I’m working on training some baking assistants to help expand the wholesale business, so we can supply more pastries for local coffee shops and breads for restaurants,” he explains.

With seating at capacity, the next phase of growth will focus on production, adding hours, and eventually more community events, including evening programming and open mics.

Purposeful Growth

“Receiving the grant money has enabled me to realize the vision that I had for a community-based coffee shop and bakery that employs a number of artistic people and feeds the community,” says Tony.

“The impact comes down to three things: what the business has meant to me personally, the difference it’s making in the community, and the ability to create jobs.”

Visit and Follow Tony’s Flour Shop

https://tonysflourshop.com/

Facebook: @tonysflourshop
Instagram: @tonysflourshop