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Our Story

The aroma of baking bread.
A wonderful slice of chocolate cake.

These are the experiences that take us back to memorable meals and close times with family. They’re also the inspiration for B’anne Japantown.

B’anne Bakery is a woman-owned bakery in the heart of Japantown, San Jose, built from a love of great bread and the craft behind it. Founder Edith trained at the renowned San Francisco Baking Institute, where she developed a deep respect for traditional bread baking and the patience it requires.

Before opening the bakery, Edith spent years refining her craft through early mornings, apprenticeships, and countless hours in a test kitchen perfecting recipes.

Today, every item at B’anne Bakery is made with high-quality ingredients and exceptional care—from flaky pastries to naturally fermented sourdough breads. Inspired by European baking traditions, the bakery offers thoughtfully crafted baked goods in a warm, welcoming space for the community to gather and enjoy.

Located at 224 Jackson Street, the bakery occupies the former Tsugaru Sushi Restaurant building, originally built in 1939 and owned by the Dobashi family. Over the decades, it has been home to a grocery store, Sumitomo Bank, a Japanese restaurant, and a boarding house—each adding to its rich history.

Inspired by travels through Germany, Austria, France, and Switzerland, Edith and her husband, Steve, explored the heart of European baking culture. In Munich, Edith toured a bakery that
milled its own flour and saw the full process—from wheat berries to beautifully baked loaves. Visits to world-renowned pastry shops like Ladurée and Pierre Hermé in Paris further deepened her
appreciation for the artistry and community that bakeries bring. Edith is bringing that same vibrant cafe culture and sense of community to San Jose through B’anne Bakery.