Eagle Village Shops has a new tenant, and it smells like sourdough.
Wild Yeast Bakehouse, the subscription-based microbakery that John Goncher built from his living room over five years, opened its first brick-and-mortar location at 503 W. Lancaster Ave., Suite 1105, on Sunday. The 1,500-square-foot shop sits between Salon Thérésé and The Silverspoon in the Wayne shopping center.
Goncher, his wife Linda Hollinshead, and son Chris Goncher joined members of the Wayne Business Association for a ribbon cutting on Saturday, according to Main Line Media News.
"Connecting with customers — both new and current — in person is a dream come true," Goncher said at the ceremony. "We are so thrilled to join the vibrant businesses in Eagle Village Shops."
The shop features an open kitchen visible to customers, a seating area with coffee and sourdough treats and a dedicated space for small-group workshops and guest speakers. Retail hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shop is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
From living room to Lancaster Avenue
Goncher spent nearly 30 years in corporate finance before launching Wild Yeast Bakehouse in April 2021 with 10 bread-share subscription customers, according to the bakery's website. He baked from his Rosemont home, eventually converting the family living room into a production space with two Belgian bread ovens, an industrial refrigerator and a speed rack, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported in April 2024.
By summer 2025, the bakery was delivering to nearly 250 households weekly, according to the company's website. The business has won Philadelphia Magazine's Best of Philly 2024 award for Best Sourdough Bread and was named Best New Bakery in the 2026 Best of the Main Line awards.
What's next
In a press release, Goncher said the Eagle Village location gives him increased capacity to serve subscription customers, wholesale partner, and farmers market channels. He will continue operating the bread-share delivery service and distributing to wholesale accounts throughout the week, in addition to the new retail hours.
The bakery plans to host community workshops and guest speakers at the new space, though no specific dates have been announced. More information and subscription sign-ups are available at wildyeastbakehouse.com.
