Otto's Bread Company opens to the public on Fridays, hopes to expand retail hours.

Otto Kramm has fulfilled his dream of taking his baking business out of his studio apartment and into a brick and mortar bakery in downtown Salinas. He has been supplying Monterey County with incredible sourdough breads for years through his wholesale operation, Otto’s Bread Company, while occasionally teasing the public with popups.

Now, however, Kramm has welcomed his popup fans on a regular basis. Most of the week’s work is still dedicated to fulfilling wholesale orders. But Fridays are for the public. Once a week, from 10am-2pm on what is a very happy Friday for bread lovers, Otto’s serves grab-and-go goodies like a variety of croissants, soft pretzels, and of course, loaves of different sourdough breads.  

Scaling up the operation has been no easy feat, but Kramm explains that, thankfully, he enjoys creating his own processes, trimming the fat, and finding the most efficient way of doing things as much as he loves baking bread. In the new space he is able to accomplish goals that weren’t feasible before, like offering a lineup of traditional, viennoiserie-style croissants that can be enjoyed while still warm from the oven. 

One of the biggest obstacles has been the fact that he has been running a one-man show, and has gotten this far with the help of his parents, girlfriend, and a small team. He now finds himself needing to grow said team in order to function at a greater scale. He admits that there have already been some learning curves to navigate, but is thankful for the continued support from his understanding customers. 

Next steps on the growth plan are to slowly expand hours, and eventually expand offerings. The ultimate goal for Kramm is to have a “one stop charcuterie board shop,” where one can get all the fixings, in addition to incredible baked goods, and beer and wine.

Otto’s Bread Company, 215 Monterey St., Salinas.