True Bakery LLC sign for the organic bakery in downtown Casper, Wyoming.
Inside Casper’s True Bakery and Its Organic Mission
“Our Motto: Organic. Natural. True!
Our Purpose: To Nourish People!
Our Values: Connection. Innovation. Contribution!”
True Bakery LLC
When you look at the website of Casper’s True Bakery, these are the principles that you will find lay the foundation for this unique Wyoming business. If the True Bakery is not a common household name for you yet as a Casper resident, or if you’re stopping through town looking for a great bite, this business brings a spin on the incredible “feel-good” foods that many of us know and love.
And what are those items?
Pastries, breads, bagels, ferments, and more.
These handmade items are made fresh in-house in their downtown Casper location and are made with no preservatives, canned goods, or artificial flavorings. True Bakery also uses only organic ingredients, with nearly every item prepared right in the store, from their sandwich meats to sourdough starter.
This unique bakery was conceptualized by Mr. Bill Brockley Jr., the current owner and CEO of True Bakery. Initially conceiving his business plan pre-COVID-19 in Seattle, Bill went through an incredible journey to get his business running in his now beloved home of Casper, Wyoming, with his partner, Emily.
The “True” Beginnings: From Washington to Wyoming
Before diving into Bill’s journey as an organic bakery owner in downtown Casper and how he launched this awesome, organic-driven company, we want to share more about the owner’s backstory, where his passion lies within his unique work, and how he has reinforced and even introduced it into the central part of our state.
Meet Bill Brockley Jr.
Receiving the award of a Michelin Star in the cooking and restaurant industry is no small feat. When awarding a restaurant with this honor, these are a few things that the judges are looking for:
“the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavours, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine and, just as importantly, consistency both across the entire menu and over time.”
Michelin Guide Inspector from the Michelin Guide
This is not a new concept for the owner of Casper’s True Bakery. With anything related to this level of honor in the culinary world, Bill knows the importance of producing the highest quality “star” to be served to his customers. Before launching his Wyoming business, Bill spent many years working in Michelin Star restaurants and with Michelin Star chefs. He is recognized as Michelin-trained and has worked in the industry for around twelve years. Nine years into his cooking and creative journey, Bill felt inspired to do something different.
While working as a line cook at a big restaurant in Seattle, Bill began to lose his sense of fulfillment and purpose. He recognized that he needed that new spark to create with no boundaries. Bill knew he loved making bread, and while spending some time in a brainstorming session with himself, the letters “T-R-U-E” popped into his mind.
He immediately wrote them down and circled the word “True” repeatedly on his notes in front of him. From that moment on, he knew exactly what direction his new business was headed in.
Knowing the mission he was striving for in his business plan, Bill worked tirelessly for weeks creating his business plan and crafting a business where food is true, free from harmful, debilitating, or “draining” ingredients that fail to serve our bodies. However, his vision was cut short when COVID-19 closed down the restaurant he was working at, creating a slight blockage for launching a company. After some traveling and eventually landing in Colorado Springs, Colorado, post-pandemic, Bill found himself enjoying a nice meal there with one question in mind:
“Where am I going next?”
From there, the opportunities were endless. Bill felt driven to head up to Wyoming, a place he had yet to live and venture through. Knowing Casper the Friendly Ghost from his upbringing, Bill felt like the Casper community was one he was ready to explore. Little did he know, this would be one of his life’s greatest decisions and adventures!
Bill’s Bakery Becomes Reality
When Bill arrived in Casper, he worked as a local food and beverage director. With his business plan still existing in his mind and the burning desire to launch his dream, he began his small business after two weeks in Casper, out of his apartment. Every Saturday and Sunday, he and his girlfriend were selling bagels, donuts, and the occasional loaves of bread.
After baking for his best friend’s wedding and providing donuts for the event, he realized how big of a hit his products were! By partnering with Wyoming’s Food for Thought Markets, Bill set up a stand to sell his locally-produced goods. When this work with them began, they customized (and thoroughly prepped) a bathroom and converted it into a prep kitchen so that the company could produce what they needed to sell fresh items for their newfound customers.
It was a massive success!
After working with the Wyoming Food for Thought Project for nearly six months, Bill found a spot in the Wolcott Galleria that he customized completely for his business. Within nine months, they were ready to launch, and the outpour of love and support from the Casper community has ceased to fall short.
On their grand opening day, they had at least 100 guests with a line going out the door of the local business for nearly three to four hours. The craze does not stop there! To this day, this organic bakery is still a huge hit, and they have won many awards in our local area that continue to demonstrate their dedication to the product and people they serve.
Organic Philosophy in Practice
As we have mentioned throughout our article, True Bakery is focused on products that are organic, natural, and, most importantly, “true.”
This business uses organic yeast that is not packaged and cultivated in their shop for their breads and other baked goods. All of their flours and sugars are of organic quality as well. This business has to work within specific agricultural practices and regulations. Because of some limitations within this set of standards, they are not yet using only Wyoming-based organic products. You can trust that they are sourcing ingredients from other producers that are 100% organic as well.
Not only is the philosophy of True Bakery reflected in their ingredients, but you will also see these practices reflected in their menu preparation. All condiments, from the ketchup to the mayonnaise, are prepared and handmade in the bakery. The seasonings and meats are also hand-prepared in the bakery. As for the delicious ham or corned beef brisket, which takes around seven days to make, you will be far from disappointed with this “farm-to-table” methodology.
Unique Offerings and Expertise
True Bakery is far from your average bakery experience.
Bill wanted True Bakery to bring an organic and health-focused approach to delicious food and the elegance of his Michelin Star experience without the skyrocketing cost for patrons.
True Bakery brings the finest baked goods and incorporates them into their most prized menu item: the sandwiches. Upon launching his business, Bill included a few different sandwich variations for breakfast and lunch. As he witnessed what a “hit” they were in the Casper community, he continued to expand on the flavor profiles and ingredients he built into his delicious sandwiches. If you are in the area, you must stop in and try at least one of them!
Bill’s company also offers a full-catering spread that has grown wildly popular, especially throughout the holiday season. He shared with our team that they had been extremely busy preparing Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. These meals included protein, dinner rolls, desserts, and many side dishes. In just two days, they sold out on their Thanksgiving catering, and for Christmas, it was just one week for another fully-sold catering spread. Bill is extremely grateful for all of the support he has received through this new product idea.
The owner hopes to use his Level II Sommelier experience to bring a unique twist to fine dining in the downtown area of Casper. He plans to introduce tasting menus with different wines, foods, and flavors. Bill has brought this experience to some groups who have worked with him thus far and knows this will continue to expand as their business brings increased awareness to their services across the community.
Ferments
True Bakery packs a punch with its fermented products. Upon launching, True Bakery offered homemade kimchi and soy sauce alongside their beloved goods. While they have stepped back on these items, fermentation is still crucial for their purchasable five-year-old sourdough starter. This sourdough starter is just as organic as the items they sell in-store and is a kit. The kit has everything you need to make your breads and baked goods from home. Not only this, Bill has written his eBook, The Art of Sourdough. You can find this eBook online here, and inside, you can explore the history of sourdough, its health benefits, recipes, and much more.
The Importance of the Downtown Casper Community
Bill feels the Casper community has been nothing short of welcoming and supportive of the True Bakery mission. Through their work with the Wyoming Food for Thought Project, garnered relationships with Casper’s Copper Cup Coffee Company, and sit-down meals at Eggingtons, Bill knows that his involvement in our downtown area is far from slowing down. The owner of True Bakery is excited to see how these relationships continue to build for himself and other business owners in the downtown area and looks forward to the surplus of tourists and visitors that the state will see as Wyoming experiences its normal seasonal shifts throughout the year.
With the busyness of the holiday season, True Bakery was also able to give back to a local mission in Casper by donating any excess bulk organic ingredients to help those in need! They will continue to be as involved as possible in any way, shape, or form as they continue to grow their presence in our community.
True Bakery’s Goals and Expansion
As for their internal staff, the bakery is looking to hire another line cook to help with kitchen preparation and a baker to open in the mornings. The owner is excited to continue to grow internally to support the adoration they’ve received from the community thus far.
As for their external presence in Casper, Bill hopes to open another True Bakery location in East Casper. Not only this, but he would love to see them open a warehouse or production facility where they can easily handle their bulk production. These practices include grinding their flour and preparing their meats in a spot that gives them the space to work with all of their fine ingredients. Considering their more long-term goals, Bill would love to open various True Bakery locations across the state of Wyoming, bringing these whole, organic products to citizens from all over the state.
Ending on a Sweet Note…
As True Bakery continues to write its story in downtown Casper, their presence extends beyond the bakery’s doors. The upcoming Bridal Extravaganza at the Ramkota Hotel in Casper this January is a prime opportunity to experience their exceptional catering menu firsthand. Whether planning a grand event or an intimate dinner party, True Bakery’s offerings will elevate any occasion.
True Bakery maintains an active and informative presence online in its growth and community engagement journey. Their Facebook page and website are great spots for discovering their latest creations, retail items, and the inspiring story behind their establishment.
Join us in celebrating and supporting the businesses that make our downtown unique. Share your experiences, favorite finds, and moments of delight with #MyDowntownCasper, and be part of the story that makes downtown Casper a place like no other.
