Tucked into the hustle and bustle of the Corydon Village in Winnipeg is a European bakery so tiny, you might miss it. The interior of Honey Bunny Pastry Shop is as adorable as its name, which owner Vira Vedmed says is a nod to childhood and the nostalgia of biting into a treat that evokes memories of home.

“I wanted to open my own place because I couldn’t find anything in North America with the kind of style I grew up with,” Vira said. “And now, more and more people are asking for the pastries their mothers prepared for them and sharing their stories, so I try to make as many of them as I can—but there are too many countries in Europe!”

A line-up of colourful, rectangular cakes in front of the window inside Honey Bunny Pastry Shop

With a background as a pastry chef in Ukraine and different parts of Canada, Vira’s goal is to create classic European recipes that are stamped with her signature style.

“I used to work in a French bakery here in Winnipeg, but they used too much sugar, more than what I was used to, so I am creating my own recipes all the time,” Vira said. “I’m trying to develop recipes that are traditional, but lighter, with less fat and sugar, and offering vegan and gluten-free options.”

From the beginning, Vira has made Honey Bunny a welcoming environment, both for her customers and her staff.

A display case filled with cute figurines inside Honey Bunny Pastry Shop

“We’ve created a good family here, and everyone enjoys being part of the process,” she said. “I am very happy with our staff, and they all really love the pastries and trying new things.”

Opening and operating Honey Bunny Pastry Shop has not always been a smooth road, but Vira remains thankful that she decided to follow her dream. When she set out to open her own bakery, she was met mostly with concerns.

“Everyone said, ‘are you sure?’ they were not optimistic,” Vira said. “100% of everyone around me was skeptical, except my [WeMB] Business Advisor.”

A quote from Vira Vedmed about her experience working with WeMB.

Before securing the location that would become Honey Bunny, Vira connected with WeMB. She found the Business Advisors and other staff to be very encouraging and the environment welcoming—a stark contrast to her previous experiences.

“Even the realtor that helped us find this [location] was not convinced,” Vira said. “I tried with many places before working with WeMB, and walking in there it was like they were expecting me. Everything was ready, people were very friendly, and they took the risk along with me.”

The bakery has continued to grow steadily in the 3 years since Vira opened the doors—with help from a WeMB loan—and though she’s in need of more staff to keep up with the bakery’s growing demand, the tiny kitchen just can’t accommodate another body.

A close-up of tarts from Honey Bunny Pastry Shop.

“It’s already hard for us to move around in the kitchen, so I am really dreaming about something bigger,” Vira said. “And since we have gluten-free stuff and it all has to be separated, that makes the working space even smaller.”

Along with more kitchen space for production, Vira would love to expand to a larger location to allow for some café tables for indoor dining, provide coffee and tea options, and expand her offerings.

“Probably it was a mistake from the beginning to get such a tiny space, but when it was empty it really looked bigger!” She laughed. Behind the pastry counter filled with treats, it’s single file for the employees squeezing past equipment and fridges, and the front of the store allows for only a few customers at a time.

The inside of a pastry filled with cream and raisins from Honey Bunny Pastry Shop.

One of the advantages of having such a small space—aside from adding to its charm—is that it’s easier to keep clean, which Vira does with mastery.

“The health inspector actually told us it’s too boring to come here,” Vira said. “But we’re cleaning all the time because of the gluten-free stuff; really, we don’t have a choice!”

As Vira plans for the future of Honey Bunny Pastry Shop, she acknowledges how far she’s come, and is proud of herself for taking a big risk to get where she is now.

“It was harder than I expected, but I’m not sorry,” she said. “It’s always better to try than to regret not trying. Most of my life I was always dreaming about plans, and nothing came through. This is the plan that really worked.”

Stop by for a taste of nostalgia or discover your new favourite treat at Honey Bunny Pastry Shop Monday – Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. at 832 Corydon Avenue.