Part shopfront, part kitchen: Co.Bake brings online baking trend to life with photogenic new Richmond bakeshop

The buttercream-frosted world of online baking businesses has crossed over into the physical realm with the launch of Co.Bake in Richmond. Part production kitchen, part shopfront, the peach-coloured addition to Swan Street is eye-catching when it’s empty, but really comes to life when it hosts pop-ups by small bakers, florists and other Melbourne artisans.

Alisha Henderson of Sweet Bakes, creator of towering ruffled celebration cakes, and Alice Bennett of Miss Trixie Drinks Tea have just opened the shopfront to the public, but have been baking there since the start of the year.

Observing the rise of online businesses making retro-tinged baked goods during COVID-19, the pair saw a need for a physical space without high overheads for these emerging businesses. A shared space for hire seemed like the solution.

At the front of the site, designers Dot Dot Dash installed generously proportioned benches, large window displays, and wall-to-wall peach finishes, plus cute touches like an illuminated sign over the kitchen door that reads “Caking in progress”. The appealing backdrop means businesses don’t need to do much for their goods to look great. Out the back, Henderson and Bennett bake their own cakes.

Pop-up shops, workshops and one-day sales for special events such as Mother’s Day are among the myriad ways Henderson and Bennett see the shopfront being used. They’ve kicked things off by each holding a bake sale. You’ve already missed Henderson’s but Bennett is busily preparing for her sale on June 10.

Then, on June 17, former Attica pastry chef Rosemary Andrews steps up to hold her first physical event since a 2021 bake sale with Attica. Her dense Valhrona chocolate-peanut butter cakes and strawberry lamingtons are usually available only via Instagram.

For the Co.Bake sale, she’ll be bringing those plus peanut cookies, focaccia and the seven-layer Honey-Misu, in which honey cake is soaked in Market Lane espresso and layered with dulce de leche mascarpone.

“I’m so excited to see people’s reactions to the pop-up and of course the gorgeous space created by Alice and Alisha,” says Andrews. “I loved the experience at [Attica] Summer Camp, where we served the customers at the table. Seeing the joy and reaction to something you make is really fulfilling.”

Co.Bake is planning plenty more events at weekends, including an August pop-up from former MasterChef contestant Reece Hignell, who runs Cake Boi in Newcastle, plus an appearance by homewares brand Mosey Me.

Open for events only. See upcoming dates on website.

239 Swan Street, Richmond, cobake.com.au