CLEVELAND, Ohio — At EDWINS Bakery & Training Center, they offer more than just cookies and croissants.  They offer their students an opportunity to change their lives with culinary arts.

• EDWINS Bakery & Training Center is the newest branch of EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute
• A core part of EDWINS’ mission is to give formerly incarcerated individuals the chance to have a better future by learning culinary and hospitality industry skills
• The founder says he wants to build the best culinary school in the country ​

Francine Bourn says she has a lot to smile about, as she serves up sweets and hot drinks to her guests at EDWINS Bakery, because not too long ago her life was much different.

“I was just released from prison, I had lost my mom, I was incarcerated. I became homeless, my special needs brother, he was displaced,” said Bourn.

EDWINS Bakery & Training Center, which just opened in December of 2019, is the newest branch of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute — developed to give formerly incarcerated individuals culinary and hospitality industry skills.

“We have the restaurants, where we teach fine dining service and also teach every station inside the kitchen. And then we have our little ecosystems over here on Buckeye just two blocks away, which we have a butcher shop to train in butchery… we had the bakery, which now teaches about baking,” said Chrostowski.

Founder, President and CEO of EDWINS Chef Brandon Chrostowski says he wants to build the best culinary school in the country.  In fact, it was school and a second chance that kept him from going to prison two decades ago.

“It all started with a second chance of that that judge, and then strong mentorship and that's the idea behind EDWINS,” said Chrostowski.

And behind the counter, Bourn and others with similar stories are now able to create pastries that are perfectly placed for display.

“Pecan bars to lemon bars, we have the macaroons, we have everything you'd find if you stroll down a side street in Paris, you'll find here on the corner of Buckeye and South Moreland.”

The lead baker, Kurt Zoss, brings classic European baking techniques and over three decades of experience to EDWINS. He says he took the position, with no hesitation.

“We're always impressed how somebody is out there to give people a chance to train. That's the reason also why, when we closed our business, we donated most of our equipment to EDWINS… so, we believe in the idea,” said Zoss.

Each order placed at EDWINS Bakery offers new opportunity and is the continuation of Chrostowski’s mission to set up EDWINS’ students for long-term success.

“The customer, a guest in our restaurant, they'll tell us the same, they'll say, you really made my day and not only did you create a great meal, this is something that I feel good about doing and giving back for, and that feeds my soul as well.”

“I got a brand-new house built from the ground up.  I just moved in in May, I got my keys in April. I have my own vehicle again, my brother is now living with me again, and I'm grateful. And I work here now at the bakery,” said Bourn.

In addition to helping students gain culinary skills and employment, EDWINS bakery seeks to be part of the solution to the food insecurity problems that plague parts of Cleveland, including the Buckeye neighborhood where the shop is located.