Fresh Eating,
Fresh Scents
Situated in the historic Flat Iron district of Skowhegan, The Bankery & Skowhegan Fleuriste is an artisan bakery, cake shop, and florist. Our baked goods are made from scratch using the freshest of ingredients, and our flowers are exploding with colors and wonderful scents. We invite you in to treat yourself to a bite to eat and flowers for a smile!
It's Our Story
When we discovered a beautiful, charming circa 1864 bank for sale in the heart of historic downtown Skowhegan, we saw an opportunity to realize a dream of creating our own bakery.
With the partnership of years of experience and enthusiastic entrepreneurial spirit, we knew that with the support of our families we could build something unique and special for our town.
We - Michael Hunt, a Skowhegan-area studio artist with many years of expertise in custom cake decorating at one of Maine's oldest bakeries; and Matt DuBois, a Millinocket native from a long line of business pioneers, fresh out of culinary school with classical training in pastry arts - opened our from-scratch bakery and custom cake shop, The Bankery, in the fall of 2008. Thanks to our families' combined experience in hospitality, restaurateuring and building construction, we transformed our old bank into a lively and inviting space while preserving its original character.
After two years of growth and success, we were presented with another opportunity; the then 25-year-old flower shop directly adjoining our bakery went on the market, and we decided to take another bold entrepreneurial leap and purchase it. In the fall of 2010, Skowhegan Fleuriste & Formalwear became The Bankery's sister company, and with some more sweat equity and family-powered renovations, we became a one-stop-shop for events and gatherings of all occasions.
The following year, with the expansion of our business, we were joined by our third partner, Mike DuBois (Matt's twin brother). Though Mike had taken a position as a graduate math instructor at UMaine while pursuing his Master's degree in mathematics, his strong family connection and bond with his brother made his decision to alter career paths an easy one. Since then, the three of us – with the unending dedication and support of our employees, families and community – have grown our businesses into a local hub of artisanship.
Well into our second decade in business, our mission and focus remain constant: creating high-quality, from-scratch products; providing attentive and personalized customer service; contributing to the vibrant and welcoming atmosphere of our downtown; supporting the development of new opportunities for our area’s businesses and residents; and giving back to our community.
Why We Do What We Do
We feel strongly about playing a role in ensuring the vitality of our community. We have volunteered our time over the past decade as board members of Main Street Skowhegan, Maine Grain Alliance, Skowhegan economic development Corporation, Maine community foundation and western mountains fund, Skowhegan performing arts and the Maine State florists and growers Association. We donate products and services annually to community functions and initiatives like Somerset Snowfest, Maple Festival, River Fest and the Run of River project, dinner in the park, Skowhegan craft brew festival, small business Saturday, and holiday stroll. Our families and our employees also give of their time, talents and creativity; we believe that our connectedness gives us the opportunity to enrich the lives of others in some way while helping to make our beautiful, riverfront town a destination for all.