Wave Hill Breads Opens Cafe in Norwalk

The only things missing from the ceremony that ripped the wrapping of the Cafe on High Street in Norwalk on Tuesday were streamers, confetti, and fireworks. Mayor Richard Moccia, and State Rep.cut the ceremonial ribbon and one giant loaf of bread to welcome owners and Mitch Rapoport to the city on Tuesday.

"We're very fortunate to have a business like this," said Moccia. "Small businesses are the backbone of our society and we need more. This means more jobs for people and more economic support in this community."

Wave Hill Breads was founded in Wilton in 2005 and built a strong following with their signature chewy and crusty French Pain de Campagne. Sapir and Rapoport, who are married, are taking their first venture into the cafe side of the business and they're looking forward to a new beginning in Norwalk.

"We are really excited, it's kind of hard to believe after working so hard to get to this point," said Rapoport. "We've been working around the clock since February to get ready for the opening. It's a big thrill."

If you can't get to Europe to satisfy your taste for extraordinary bread, Wave Hill Breads will serve it up to you. The bread is hand made and consists of all natural ingredients. The bakery mills their own organic grains and the entire process, from start to finish, takes 12 hours.

"My husband and I studied with a French baker in Vermont after tasting his bread at a restaurant in Stowe," said Sapir. "We spent a lot of time with him and learned how to make it and everyone loved it. It's in about 40 stores, now. But for the first time, people will get to taste sandwiches on our bread."

The cafe is homey and comfortable with a slice of style. It should make for a nice place to hang out, "It's a special cafe," said Rapoport. "We wanted this to be a place where people come to eat good food and relax with their friends. We're also going to have pastries and soups. We'll be increasing the menu as we go along."

The bakery will be open long after the cafe closes for the day. If you have a hunger for fresh bread, customers will have the opportunity to buy it under the cover of darkness.

"The bakers are here all night. You can come in the back door and buy it," said Sapir. "The fresh bread comes out at 10:00 p.m. We want to fill that oven as much as possible."

State Senator Duff sees the cafe as a sign of progress for Norwalk, "We are a city on the move. Looking at this new business and how great it is and how many people are here, shows that the optimism that we feel is real. This is just another jewel in the crown for our city that makes Norwalk such a special place."

The cafe officially opened on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m.