Meet the Franchisees
Tim and Emily Witcher
Tim and Emily are both native Virginians. Tim attended the College of William and Mary on a football scholarship where he had the privilege of playing with two future NFL coaches (Mike Tomlin, Pittsburg Steelers, Sean McDermott- Buffalo Bills).
Emily, who was an avid figure skater, made her way to Bates College in Maine where she enjoyed convenient access to ice rinks. The two met in business school at the University of Virginia nearly 20 years ago and have both worked various corporate jobs over the past two decades. Relocating to Nolensville in January 2020, they noticed that the community desired some of the amenities of neighboring towns and began considering how they could put their broad business experience to use in a way that would help meet the needs of their new neighbors while allowing them to become part of the fabric of the community. They look forward to opening Spring/Summer of 2022.
Mechelle Coate and Dustin Marks
Franchisees Mechelle Coate and Dustin Marks decided to open a House of Bread Bakery Café after years of deliberation.
We found ourselves finally as empty-nesters and decided now was the perfect time. For us, we wanted to offer a product that we believed in and House of Bread embodies the traditional values of handmade quality products and being a part of the community. It is important to both of us to find a way to “give back” and House of Bread truly believes in that concept. Whether it is partnering with local charities, recognizing and celebrating our first responders, or providing a great place to work, House of Bread is truly a company with heart and that was our deciding factor.
Prior to opening our House of Bread, I (Mechelle) was a stay at home mom while also dedicating much of my free time to animal rescue. Prior to that, I had worked in retail and apartment management. Dustin graduated from Texas Tech with an engineering degree. In addition to his bakery duties, Dustin is still currently employed in the energy industry.
We have 3 adult children ( Karissa, Caitlin, and Brady) and 2 dogs (Nelson and Grant) that mean the world to us. Hopefully you will get a chance to meet them at the bakery. The kids…not the dogs!!! But look for pictures of our fur-kids on Facebook! I show them off often.
Bret & Meschelle Kolb
We have dreamed of owning our own business for several years, and we have also been looking for a way to get back to Alaska. With all of our children out of the house, we have the freedom to move wherever we want and pursue whatever we want. We felt the House of Bread franchise is the ideal opportunity to both get us back to the area we want to live in (Alaska) and also work together in business, utilizing our individual strengths. Bret uses his business and management skills to run the “back office” while Meschelle focuses on the “front of store” and marketing/community relations. House of Bread is the perfect opportunity to work together on a daily basis for our own business.
Manager Stephanie, with parents JoAnn and Don Nelson
Stephanie of Wasilla, Alaska House of Bread Bakery
We have always been long term customers of House of Bread and have enjoyed the amazing products. Our daughter, Stephanie was the baker under the prior owner of House of Bread Wasilla. We thought the business would make the perfect fit for our family. We purchased the business in fall of 2019 and haven’t looked back since.
Soo and Larry Cho
Franchisees, Soo and Larry Cho opened the Chatsworth House of Bread Bakery Café in 2010 and embodied the belief that bread should be handmade, fresh and natural, just the way that the founder, Sheila McCann had envisioned it when she opened the first House of Bread in 1996.
The unique micro-bakery features over twenty-five premium breads and serves a tempting assortment of cinnamon rolls, muffins, and scones all made from scratch every day. What differentiated the House of Bread from other bread companies at the time was its’ use of high protein flour. From day one, customers knew that the House of Bread loaves were different.
The Chatsworth House of Bread Bakery Café is located at 20507 Devonshire Street on the corner of Devonshire & Mason, between One West Bank and Robeks Juice.
Tim and Nathalie Atwell
Tim and Nathalie Atwell are the new Reno Franchisees. They completed the initial training, and were naturals with the doughs, employees and customers.