Honeycomb, a local bakery and cafe in Hamilton, is preparing to expand with a second location in Marblehead.
Owners Lauren and Billy Moran opened Honeycomb in June 2017. The bakery includes an assortment of baked goods, sandwiches, and refreshments.
Over the years, the Morans said the community has been the best part about owning Honeycomb. They enjoy seeing customers come into the place to buy a pastry, have a coffee, and meet for conversation.
“My favorite part about owning Honeycomb is that it is truly a happy place,” Lauren Moran said. “We have always tried to create a sense of community in our space.”
For the last few months, Billy Moran said they have been working on the idea of expanding the business to Marblehead.
“We have always wanted to open a location in Marblehead and have been looking for the right space,” said Billy Moran.
When they heard the former owner of Barrelman was selling their space, the Morans toured the area. Located on Washington Street near Marblehead’s Five Corners intersection, the area felt right to operate a new business, Billy Moran said.
Last year, the Morans thought about expanding to Gloucester, but plans fell through. Although they love the area, it wasn’t the right fit, according to Billy Moran.
“I think that every restaurant/cafe/bakery opening is part planning and part trusting the process,” said Lauren Moran.
They anticipate opening in Marblehead in February. Before construction can begin, the couple has significant work to do to develop design plans and obtain the necessary permits and approvals, Billy Moran explained.
A Wenham native, Lauren learned to cook from her large Italian family, then spent summers during her college years working in various front-of-house restaurant positions on Nantucket. In 2008, she enrolled in Boston University’s culinary certificate program, studying under Jacques Pepin and many of Boston’s top chefs.
Shortly after graduating from Boston University, Lauren worked as the pastry chef at Sel de la Terre on Boston’s waterfront under Chef Frank McClelland before moving on to serve as executive pastry chef at a number of other notable Boston restaurants, including Island Creek Oyster Bar and Row 34. She met Billy behind the bar of his family’s 45-year-old pub across the street.
Billy Moran pledged that the Marblehead Honeycomb would embody the same commitment to quality and customer service as the original Honeycomb, but with a twist.
“We want the space to feel connected to the original Honeycomb but also be unique and have its own identity,” said Billy Moran.
Lauren Moran said she hopes to recreate the Hamilton Honeycomb’s welcoming atmosphere in Marblehead. She said the Marblehead location would begin by serving the same breakfast and lunch menu as Hamilton, which includes a variety of sandwiches, pastries, bowls and salads.
“We hope to start with breakfast and lunch and then add some sort of dinner service,” said Lauren Moran.
The Hamilton Honeycomb holds pizza nights weekly on Thursday, offering 14-inch pies made with sourdough crust.
As they work towards their Marblehead grand opening in February, Billy Moran shared one of their goals: to create a passionate working team and help shape a comfortable atmosphere.
“We hope it broadens our reach and gives the residents of Marblehead another great dining option,” he said. “We are hoping to create an opportunity for them to enjoy our food and drink on a regular basis.”
