What is Culture Breads Bakery, Crazy Train Eatery, and Grain Shed Brewing?
At the heart of Spokane’s vibrant food scene, three unique spots come together to celebrate ancient grains, local flavors, and community spirit. Culture Breads Bakery, located at 1026 E Newark Ave, crafts breads, pastries, and pastas starting with ancient grains stone ground to lock in nutrition and flavor. Their traditional methods—fermenting dough, extruding pasta through brass dies—make every bite both healthy and incredibly delicious. Just down the road, Crazy Train Eatery at 5016 N Market offers fresh, local salads, burgers, and sandwiches in the United Building of downtown Hillyard. And then there’s Grain Shed Brewing, a brewery dedicated to exceptional beers brewed exclusively from rare, locally grown and malted grains, right here in Spokane. Together, these spots form a cooperative spirit that’s all about quality, tradition, and community connection.
Main Benefits of This Local Cooperative
These businesses don’t just serve food and drink—they serve a purpose. Here’s what makes them stand out:
- Bcorp score: 97.8, reflecting strong commitment to social and environmental responsibility
- 100% use of locally grown and malted grains at Grain Shed Brewing
- Ancient grains stone ground to preserve nutrition and flavor at Culture Breads Bakery
- Traditional fermentation and brass die extrusion methods for authentic taste and health benefits
- Fresh daily production with limited quantities to ensure quality and freshness
- Community-focused hours and events, like happy hours and pizza nights
- Passion for connecting urban dwellers with farmers and the land through food and drink
Ancient Grains and Traditional Methods
It’s not just about what’s on the plate or in the glass—it’s about how it gets there. Culture Breads Bakery and Grain Shed Brewing both emphasize ancient grains, stone-milled to keep their nutritional punch intact. Unlike mass-market grains engineered for volume but lacking flavor and nutrition, these landrace grains are naturally drought and pest tolerant, better for the environment and better for people. The Grain Shed’s process is a throwback to the old ways: stone milling, natural fermentation, and baking in a wood-fired oven. It’s all about doing things the hard way because that’s how you get the best, healthiest, and most delicious results.
Community and Connection Through Food
More than just a bakery or brewery, these places are about bringing people together. Grain Shed Brewing dreams of neighborhood-sized brewery-bakeries scattered across Spokane, creating hubs where neighbors meet, share stories, and feel connected to the land and each other. It’s a movement to highlight the bounty of the Palouse region and make urban life feel a little closer to the farmers who grow the food. Whether grabbing a loaf, a pint, or a sandwich, visitors are encouraged to strike up a conversation and become part of a connected community.
Hours and Accessibility
Freshness is key here—everything is made daily and served until it sells out, so timing matters. Culture Breads Bakery opens early at 7:00am and stays open through the evening on most days, with special pizza hours and happy hours sprinkled throughout the week. Crazy Train Eatery keeps things simple with consistent hours from 11am to 7pm Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday. These hours reflect a commitment to quality over quantity, ensuring every product is fresh and every visit feels special.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger – promoting nutritious, locally grown food
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – offering healthy, natural food and drink options
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – supporting local farmers and producers
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – fostering community connections through local food
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – using sustainable grains and traditional methods
- SDG 15: Life on Land – encouraging environmentally friendly farming practices
Join the Movement Toward Local Food and Drink
The Grain Shed, Culture Breads Bakery, and Crazy Train Eatery aren’t just businesses—they’re part of a growing movement. They invite everyone to eat, drink, shop, and spread the word about landrace grains and local food systems. It’s about more than just taste; it’s about changing how communities relate to their food, their farmers, and each other. So next time you’re in Spokane’s Perry District, stop by for a loaf, a pint, or a fresh sandwich—and maybe, just maybe, start a conversation that connects you a little closer to the land and the people who nurture it.
