Sisters, Krissy and Katie Mack, are raising their families in Oak Park and have made their brick-and-mortar bakery dreams come true in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District. Broken Tart brings “undone” cakes, classic cookies and a sense of whimsy to 1108 Chicago Avenue.
Settling in Oak Park allowed Krissy, a celebrated pastry chef, to dive into businesses with her media-savvy sister, Katie. Both sisters have sons who are two and six years old. Katie is a Lincoln mom, Krissy is a Hatch mom — and both half expected to find a line of first graders out the door on opening day.
“We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders,” said Katie Mack. “We grew up disagreeing with each other, but we’ve learned to move through issues quickly. Now we are a motivating force for each other and looking forward to nurturing what we have here.”
The sisters “called in every favor” they could to complete the gut rehab that transformed a former coin laundromat into a space worthy of the vibrant cakes and array of sweet and savory treats Broken Tart is known for making.
Broken Tart customers can collaborate on the creation of elaborate “undone” layer cakes with interest and contrast coming from unique combinations of flavor, crunch and cream. The one-of-a-kind cakes, often topped with fresh flowers and a pile of marshmallowy meringue, are connected by a sense of whimsy and offered on an in-house sweetness scale.
Though the sisters will willingly create special occasion cakes for bakery goers, they are clear Broken Tart will be an approachable eatery where people can enjoy delicious things on an everyday basis from breakfast through lunch.
Cookies with crisp edges and gooey centers join olive oil cake with orange glaze, “kale salad” scones and cinnamon coffee cake on a rotating and evolving daily menu. The bakery is set to launch a thoughtful lunch menu with offerings like loaded vegan focaccia, broccoli salad with Aleppo pepper and house pickled chilis, and seasonal panzanella with peaches, tomatoes, and feta. Parisian ham on baguette, baked falafel sandwiches, and lunch boxes for kids will also be available.
Abundance is a theme at the bakery where the coffee program will share equal billing with the baked goods. Coffee aficionados should expect the shop to offer coffee from Big Shoulders and Ruby Roasters.
“We love Oak Park and this supportive community of people,” said Katie “We are raising our families here. We’ve both put down roots. Why wouldn’t we want to grow a business here? We are both all in.”
Broken Tart
1108 Chicago Ave, Oak Park
(708) 434-5682
www.brokentart.com
