Owner of The Coop changing shops’ approach to ‘Crumble Cookies meets Starbucks’
Five years ago, developer Brant Dumford opened his first location of The Coop in Derby, envisioning it as a co-op space where local bakers could sell their goods and locals could stop in for coffee drinks.
Then, two years ago, he added a Wichita location of The Coop, taking over the 1909 house at 2812 E. Douglas that Common Grounds had just vacated.
Now, Dumford is changing the approach at both locations of The Coop. The transformation should be complete in about 30 days, he said.
Instead of focusing on a co-op bakery approach, both locations of The Coop will begin providing their own artisan pastries created by just-hired pastry chef Jared Williams.
Williams, a classically trained pastry chef who previously created desserts for Georges French Bistro, will be based in Derby and will make pastries for both locations. His specialties are things like tarts, croissants, scones and pots de creme.
The shops will focus on single-serving desserts, Dumford said, comparing the approach to “Crumble Cookie meets Starbucks.” Customers will see each day’s pastry selection displayed on digital menu boards, and the items they choose will be elegantly packaged. The pastries will run between $5 and $8 each, he said, and they’ll be available mornings through evenings.
Though the shops will still stock items from a few other local bakers, the selection will be pared down to the top sellers.
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“Nothing was wrong with the old concept other than we believed the consumer would like a fresher option and alternative,” Dumford said. “We loved the five years we had with it, but now it’s time to pivot and bring in the masses again.”
Both shops will still serve coffee drinks and breakfast items. Dumford said he’s remodeling both stores to make them less retail-centric and give them more of a service-based feel. The Derby shop will get some extra seating.
The shops will both remain open during the transformation, he said. They’ll both still be called “The Coop” but will have new branding.
Dumford, who also is the co-owner of the new Layali Mediterranean restaurant at 236 W. Greenway, closed The Coop in Derby for about three months while he got new equipment in and just reopened it a month ago.
One of Dumford’s focuses as a developer has been activating the K-15 corridor in Derby by picking up older buildings with low overhead and giving them new life. The Coop is just north of his planned Derby Market Square at the corner of Market and K-15, which will include three new restaurant concepts.
Dumford said that one of the reasons he wanted to change the approach of The Coop in Derby was to make it a more upscale complement to Derby Market Square. The first piece of that project will be a breakfast restaurant called The Hen House, which should open in about four months at 120 N. Baltimore.
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It will be followed in about six months by a new cocktail bar called The Social at 130 N. Baltimore. A creamery also is in the plans for Derby market Square, which will have a common courtyard area.
“I just wanted to pivot to something a little more high-end,” he said. “I wanted there to be higher-end options for that development.”
His success in Derby, Dumford said, has inspired him to start looking at another near-Wichita community.
He and his business partner, Andy Barnard, are now eyeing Goddard, and though they’re not ready to share specifics, Dumford said that the pair wants to start bringing dining options there as well.
This story was originally published July 31, 2025 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Owner of The Coop changing shops’ approach to ‘Crumble Cookies meets Starbucks’."
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