A new bakery has been proposed for the west side of Wauwatosa.

On Monday evening, the Wauwatosa Plan Commission approved plans for The Appleseed Bakery, a venue specializing in baked goods prepared with all natural and certified non-GMO ingredients.

If all goes well, the nascent business is slated to open early this summer in the former Peet’s Coffee in the retail development at 418 N. Mayfair Rd. which also houses Qdoba, JJ’s Martini Lounge and World of Beer. The Appleseed Bakery will feature a traditional retail bakery along with a small dining area.

Lula Allen, who signed a lease on the space on February, is a longtime baker who recently retired from her teaching position with Milwaukee Public Schools after 25 years of service. She will run the business with the help of her daughters Dorian and Janine, along with her son-in-law Brandon Chapman.

Allen says she grew up with a love for baking. "Every weekend I took cookies and cakes with me to church," she says. "And even when I was in high school, my friends were always asking me to make cookies for them. During my time with MPS, I think I did more baking than teaching," she adds with a slight chuckle.

Offerings will include items like brownies, cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, cookies, muffins and peach cobbler along with items like baked oatmeal and banana pudding parfaits. There will also be a variety of beverage options including coffee, tea and the bakery’s signature apple cider.

The bakery will also feature a number of items for which Allen has become known over the years including her caramel cake, a dense buttery cake topped with homemade caramel icing, and her special vegan chocolate cake.

Allen says the bakery’s focus on natural and GMO-free ingredients was inspired by both her children and grandchildren.

"My daughters have always been very aware of the ingredients in foods that they’re eating," she says, "and they’ve always been very conscious about choosing items for my grandchildren that are all natural and free of preservatives, artificial colorings and GMO’s. They’re not always easy to find; it’s amazing the things that they put in our food! But this will be the place where parents can feel good about bringing their children."

Allen says two of her granddaughters are also vegan, so she has also committed to carrying a variety of both vegan and gluten-free items.

"Finding the products that I need has been a tremendous challenge," Allen notes. "So, in some cases, I’ll be making them from scratch, including my own evaporated milk."

Allen says that tentative hours for the bakery will be Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Watch OnMilwaukee for additional information about Appleseed Bakery as it becomes available.