By Liz Moomey
liz.moomey@salisburypost.com

GRANITE QUARRY — On Tuesday, Knead Sweets in Granite Quarry will be transformed, hoping to drive more customers, owner Amber Springer is turning the bakery into a cafe.

After less than a year at 910 N. Salisbury GQ Ave., next to Pro Nails and Slice of Heaven Pizza, Springer is listening to her customers and adding sandwiches. Springer is also changing the interior of Knead Sweets removing the antique feel of the place with something more modern. She wants it to be a place that encourages family interaction, fitting for the inclusion of Point Dance Co. and the future Destination Hope Church.

The Granite Crossing shopping center put on a grand opening on Oct. 11 to celebrate its revitalization.

“It seems like it’s picking up a lot,” Springer said. “I think it’ll pick up with the atmosphere changing. I think more customers will engaged since we changed the atmosphere. It’s been dead here for so long. It just needs to be livened up.”

Springer hopes Knead Sweets can be a destination for the community. With couches, tables and free wi-fi, she wants to attract anyone from business people having meetings to high school students working on their homework.

She also plans to build upon community events hosted by Knead Sweets to draw people to the town, like a chili cookoff in the fall and bringing food trucks to the parking lot.

“I hope Granite will stand behind us, which they have been receptive to things,” Springer said. “Hopefully it will bring more customers to the Granite region.”

Selling the pull-apart bread and square hamburger buns, she will also continue to keep the memory alive of Bill’s Bakery Bread, which she learned when her mother worked for the bakery.

“We’ve been making the Bill’s Bakery Bread, which has been really popular,” Springer said. “Now we’re going to start serving sandwiches.”

She also bakes Bill’s Bakery Bread for Faith Soda Shop.

Springer is following in her mother’s footsteps, which wasn’t initially intended. She wanted to concentrate on making bread-style donuts with handmade glaze. After receiving compliments for her donuts, she decided to open a donut shop in Salisbury Downtown Donuts.

Springer will continue to serve the baked goods but now will showcase the donut-making processes.

“We kept our hand glazer out here so that people can see the donuts drip,” Springer said. “People love to see that.”

She is continuing to listen to the community by extending the cafe’s hours and days it is opened.

Knead Sweets will now be open seven days a week with hours Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Knead Sweets will have a grand reopening on March 23 starting 8 a.m. with giveaways, music, face painting for kids and kicking off the cafe’s frequent customer cards.

In addition to sandwiches with sides, Springer will also offer flavored coffees and is looking to add juices and smoothies.