Quality comes naturally to the Paige and John Courtney. “We actually commit to limiting growth so we touch every sale,” says Paige, who opened Kimball Junction’s Bake Shop in 2023, just across from the Chop Shop, where the couple are celebrated for their excellent locally sourced meats and all-prime beef from the legendary Creekstone Farms in Kansas.
Behind The Bake Shop counter, Paige and her staff personally craft outstanding sourdough, pain au chocolate, croissants and custom cakes. Paige, a seasoned F&B Director, sommelier, and host at top Vegas restaurants is a self-taught baker. “I almost gave up,” she smiles of the notoriously finicky art. “But John encouraged me, and after 8 months of failed croissants, it clicked!”
Her expert nose for coffee is another reason customers rave. “It’s Lamill!” she says. “I have a long history with them; they are simply the best in the business.” ‘Velvet’ is the blend she uses for a matchless pour-over and café-au-lait. “We also make our syrups from scratch with high-quality vanilla beans and flavors like cardamom.”
The couple met in 2012 in Vegas, early in John’s stellar kitchen career. Together, they have opened a dozen restaurants, though Chop Shop and The Bake Shop are their first ownership venture. After choosing Park City as the perfect place to raise their son, they relocated in late 2019, just months before COVID hit. “That was a great motivator,” Paige says of the uncertain times. “We took a pay cut to do it, but (opening our business) was more in line with our family’s future.”
Now, they embrace the Mountainkind spirit of professional growth and mutual business support. “We travel, bring in chefs from abroad, and are constantly learning. As new businesses open, we look to partner with them. Their success is our success.”
The Courtneys’ dedication has paid off with Park City’s trust. “People are willing to try whatever we make,” Paige smiles. “They say, ‘If you made it, it must be good!’”