ASHLAND, Ky. - The yellow brick road may lead to the land of Oz but the Red Brick Oven

Bakery

will now lead customers to Ashland.

The Hanging Rock bakery that opened in December 2003 is expanding to a second location on 13th Street in Ashland that is set to open Friday and celebrate its grand opening all next week. The new business will have a little company as well because import boutique Unique Origins will open in the same location.

But maybe most important, Kentucky residents will not have to drive as far to snatch up the sweets so many are craving.

&#8221Our head baker says it best. Pride is our main ingredient,“ said bakery and Unique Origins manager Tammy Johnson, who has been with the business from the start. &#8221We have great customer service and a great product. Those two combined have helped us to be so successful.“

The new bakery will get most of its sweet offerings fresh each morning from the Hanging Rock bakery. Featured goodies includes pies, doughnuts, brownies, the ever-popular crem\u00E9 horns, turnovers, cookies, eclairs, pecan rolls and more. The new location will offer a few new delights as well including cappuccino and smoothie drinks, an expanded lunch menu and more tables for dining in.

&#8221We are real excited. It is nice to be able to offer a second location. We pull a lot of people from Ashland and Boyd County,“ said Shane Lawson, bakery co-owner with Ernest Brewer and Nathan Bricken.

&#8221It impresses us that that people were willing to drive 30 to 45 minutes to get our products but we want to make it a little easier on them.“

Normal hours will be Monday to Friday 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Ohio location, at 91 State Route 650, near the intersection with U.S. 52, will remain the pastry hub.

More locations mean more jobs, Lawson said. So far, the company has added 5 full-time positions and 6 part-time spots that could expand into fuul-time.

For Johnson and others, the endeavor has been a long process that began in May. She and others have been working long shifts for months to make it happen.

&#8221It will be a relief to greet that first customer,“ she said.

Johnson is also excited about Unique Origins as well, something she said will create a Cracker Barrel-type atmosphere.

&#8221We will have hand-crafted art from around the world,“ she said. &#8221We have tribal masks, drums and different cool things.“