Bakery opens joint location with bubble tea shop in Downtown Columbus

View a previous report on the partnership between Three Bites and Little Cat in the video player above.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The partnership between a bakery and a bubble tea shop is now open Downtown.

Three Bites Bakery and Little Cat Boba moved into the 12 E. Broad St. space with help from a city initiative aimed at bringing small minority and women-owned businesses Downtown. The joint location had a soft opening on Aug. 16 but held its official grand opening Wednesday.

The shop right by the corner of Broad and High streets will be open Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Opened in 2019, Three Bites is a Filipino-Italian bakery with a variety of “sweet and savory” pastry items. Owner Isabella Bonello described her business, including its ties to her family roots.

“Three Bites Bakery specializes in small treats made from scratch, that combine tried and true methods with creativity and care,” Bonello said. “We are inspired by our family history and our taste for the world beyond our kitchen.”

Little Cat is a Korean-American cafe and boba shop owned by Raymond Kim. With roots in the West Coast, he opened the business to bring some of the area’s “fantastic” bubble tea to Columbus. His shop also offers coffee, which he said he’s always had an affinity for. He named the shop in honor of his mother, who gave him the nickname “little cat” when he was a child.

“In honor of this cherished memory and the woman who made it possible, this shop stands as a tribute to my mother and the joyous moments we shared,” Kim said.

Bonello and Kim said in April that their partnership couldn’t be a better fit.

“Given the relationship between baked goods, coffee and boba, it’s almost a marriage of sorts,” Kim said at the time.

The Ground Floor Growth Initiative was passed by Columbus City Council in October. It helps minority and women owners of small businesses bring their shops Downtown through things like rent assistance. In addition to the Three Bites and Little Cat partnership, an East African coffee shop, a clothing store and more are opening Downtown as part of the program.

“Diversity has been and always will be our biggest strength which is why having a strong Downtown is synonymous with having a diverse Downtown,” Councilmember Nicholas Bankston said. “I am proud to lead the charge on this initiative which will ensure that our Downtown reflects the beautiful diversity of our city.”

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