A tiny Chinese bakery on Berry Street has established itself as a firm fixture in the community, with sweet and savoury treats that sell out on a daily basis.
Bonbon Bakery is a family run affair that first opened in January 2013. In the decade since its launch, it has amassed a dedicated and loyal following, with devoted customers of all backgrounds and ethnicities.
Manager Janice Zhen was on hand to chat with the ECHO about what it's like working at such a beloved bakery. The 26-year-old has "always worked" at the venue - her parents are the owners.
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Speaking about her experiences at Bonbon Bakery, Janice said: "Basically, it's quite fun and it's interesting to work here. A lot of people and Chinese people know the pastries we have, but people from different backgrounds who don't know what we do and how our food tastes - I love it when they come in and try things.
"When we first opened, I was stood outside giving samples so people could try our food. We sell all sorts of things and we educate people on the traditional Cantonese, Hong Kong style of Chinese baking.
"We sell egg tarts, pineapple buns, chasiu buns - that's a bestseller in the shop; it's red meat in a Chinese barbecue sauce inside a bun, so when you bite into it, you get the bun and meat filling textures at the same time. We do a lot of food for vegans and vegetarian eaters, too."
Bonbon Bakery's sweet and savoury creations are displayed behind expansive glass cases, with customers taking a tray to choose which items they may want before taking them to the counter where they're boxed up. There's a vast selection of baked goods, all of which are very reasonably priced.
There's large coconut buns for £1.50 each, a variety of pork buns priced at £1.60-£1.80 each, spring onion and shredded pork rolls for £2.50, red bean and rice balls priced at £1.20 each, and much, much more. At the time of the ECHO's visit, it wasn't long before the shop closed its doors for the evening and many items had already sold out.
All items are baked fresh daily in the kitchen downstairs and, according to Janice, waste isn't an issue at all because everything sells out each day. There's also regular customers - including one who came in during our visit - who pop in multiple times per week.
Janice said: "It's a good neighbourhood. We have a lot of customers coming from further away like Blackpool and Huyton too, travelling in to see us. My parents own the shop - my dad used to be a professional baker in Manchester and then we decided to come over to Liverpool and open a proper bakery here.
"When we first opened, there wasn't any shops like this in Liverpool. I love participating in people's special events, like birthdays and anniversaries and things like that.
"I like to create personalised foods for people. I like to see people coming in and having a chat with them, too. The biggest success is when a new customer comes in and then you see them come back; that's such a joy."
With a smile, Janice added: "I wish people would come in and not ask for sausage rolls like you get in Greggs or Sayers. I want them to come and try our traditional foods - it's a new kind of taste and new flavours."
Of her hopes for the bakery's future, Janice said: "We have relatives from Kent who come visit us and they always go home with lots of our food. They give it out to their customers - they own a chippy - and the customers love them and say they've never tried anything like this before.
"I hope to expand and have more shops and go to other places too and serve people who haven't experienced what we do before."
Bonbon Bakery is based at 38 Berry Street, Liverpool, L1 4JQ. It opens from 11am until 6.30pm seven days a week. It sometimes closes on a Wednesday, but does tend to open every day.
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