Black Market Bakery

Introduction / Overview

Black Market Bakery, a recent and welcome addition to the culinary scene in downtown Crystal Lake, is rapidly establishing itself as a premier destination for high-quality, scratch-made baked goods in the Northern Illinois region. Located right next door to Cafe Olympic and owned by the acclaimed Rachel Skubiszewski (affectionately known as the “cinnamon roll lady”), this bakery is the realization of a long-held dream to expand her popular baking repertoire into a dedicated, community-focused storefront. The name itself is a nod to the business's humble beginnings, where Skubiszewski often found herself baking overnight in rented kitchens, feeling like she was conducting a "black market" operation to meet demand.

The bakery's commitment to quality is evident in every aspect. Under the direction of Executive Pastry Chef Sara Bartyzel, the focus is on creating desserts that are "classic and unique," putting innovative twists on staple items and often featuring a Southern and nostalgic spin. This dedication to excellence ensures that patrons are indulging with local and high-quality ingredients. A key feature that appeals to modern Illinois consumers is the establishment’s transparent, open kitchen design. Customers are invited to watch the bakers at work, seeing their goods brought directly from the oven into the display cases—a powerful testament to the freshness and authenticity of the products.

Black Market Bakery offers a vast and varied selection, going far beyond standard bakery fare. While the owner's famous cinnamon rolls—estimated to have been made over 100,000 times in the past five years—remain the signature item, the expanded menu now includes triple the amount of new items. This range covers everything from gourmet danishes and scones to homemade breads, focaccia, specialty cookies, and even custom “pop-tarts.” Crucially for the McHenry County community, a major highlight is the dedicated presence of both **gluten-free and vegan options**, ensuring inclusivity for those with dietary preferences or restrictions. Customer reviews confirm the success of this approach, noting the wide variety of fresh baked goods that are of "excellent quality and fair pricing." The bakery accepts all major forms of payment, including Credit cards and Debit cards, ensuring a seamless transaction process for all local users.

Location and Accessibility

Black Market Bakery is ideally positioned at 86 N Williams St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014, USA. This central location in the heart of downtown Crystal Lake makes it a highly accessible and convenient stop for residents throughout the city and surrounding areas, including Lake in the Hills and Algonquin. Its placement adjacent to the owner’s existing restaurant, Cafe Olympic, creates a recognized and easily locatable hub for food enthusiasts in the region.

As a downtown establishment, the bakery integrates seamlessly into the Crystal Lake community structure, making it perfect for pedestrians, those looking for a quick drive-in stop, or individuals utilizing local street parking. The proximity to other local businesses and the main commercial area ensures that a visit to the bakery can be easily combined with other errands or outings.

While specific, comprehensive accessibility features like a dedicated ramp or accessible restroom are not explicitly listed in the core data, the business is located in a high-traffic, established downtown area, generally designed to accommodate public access. Given the modern design and open concept of the new store, coupled with the business’s commitment to community and diverse offerings (such as vegan and gluten-free items), a high degree of physical accommodation for all patrons is strongly implied. The central location is perfect for a quick stop, fulfilling the need for an efficient and enjoyable visit for busy Illinois residents.

Services Offered

• Full In-Store Experience: Features a unique, clean, and open kitchen concept where customers can view the baking process.
• Extensive Pastry and Baked Goods Menu: Offers a vast selection including over half a dozen cinnamon roll flavors, danishes, scones, croissants, cookies, and specialty items like homemade pop-tarts.
• Specialty Breads and Focaccia: Provides fresh-baked goods like French Loafs, Sourdough, Pretzel Buns, and various flavors of Focaccia (e.g., Jalapeno Cheddar, Greek Olive Feta).
• Dietary Inclusive Options: Features a comprehensive range of both **Gluten-Free** and **Vegan** baked goods, including cookies, biscuits, scones, and brownies, explicitly listed on the menu.
• Custom Large Orders: Available for special events, offering items like cinnamon roll birthday or wedding cakes to fill a gap in local event catering.
• Breakfast and Savory Items: Offers breakfast sandwiches and savory danishes (e.g., Mushroom Onion Cheese) alongside sweet pastries.
• Local Partnered Goods: Sells products from neighboring businesses, including Conscious Cup coffee grounds and local honey, fostering a strong local economy.
• Payment Convenience: Accepts Credit cards and Debit cards for fast and easy purchasing.

Features / Highlights

• Signature Cinnamon Rolls: Famous for the "cinna-monster," the owner's signature recipe, with multiple flavor variations like Orange, Caramel Apple, and Maple Bacon.
• Open Kitchen Transparency: Customers can watch the Executive Pastry Chef and team working on the scratch-made goods, guaranteeing freshness.
• Commitment to Dietary Needs: One of the few local bakeries with a dedicated, broad selection of high-quality **Gluten-Free and Vegan** treats.
• Nostalgic and Classic Twists: The menu is designed to be "classic and unique," offering creative, high-quality spins on nostalgic desserts and staple baked goods.
• Scratch-Made Quality: Everything is made in-house, prioritizing high-quality and, where possible, local and sustainable ingredients.
• Community Focused: Actively collaborates with other local businesses by stocking their products in the bakery, supporting the downtown Crystal Lake market.
• Highly Praised Service: Initial customer reviews highlight the "best employees" and a welcoming, warm experience.

Contact Information

Address: 86 N Williams St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014, USA

Phone: (815) 526-3000

Mobile Phone: +1 815-526-3000

What is worth choosing

For Illinois residents, choosing Black Market Bakery is choosing a business that delivers an exceptional combination of passion, quality, and inclusivity. What is most worth choosing about this establishment is its unique standing as a destination for both classic indulgence and necessary dietary accommodation. Patrons are drawn by the fame of the "cinna-monster" cinnamon rolls—a truly local legend—but they stay for the astonishing variety and commitment to quality across the entire menu, which rivals any large metropolitan bakery.

The dedication to making all goods from scratch, paired with the open kitchen environment, fosters a sense of trust and transparency that is rare in the food industry. Customers see the freshness and effort in real-time. More importantly, for the growing number of individuals with dietary needs in the McHenry County area, Black Market Bakery is an essential resource. The explicit and extensive menu listing for **Vegan and Gluten-Free** options—including multiple types of cookies, biscuits, and scones—removes the guesswork and disappointment often associated with searching for allergy-friendly treats, making it a reliable and excellent choice for an inclusive family outing or event.

Furthermore, by choosing this bakery, patrons are supporting a successful local entrepreneur, Rachel Skubiszewski, whose personal journey in baking led to the creation of a much-needed business in downtown Crystal Lake. Her focus on nostalgic comfort food with modern, quality ingredients ensures every splurge is worth it. The conveniently located spot on N Williams St, with easy payment options, makes it a frictionless experience. Whether an Illinois user is looking for a gourmet loaf of homemade focaccia for dinner, a perfect vegan cookie, or a legendary cinnamon roll, Black Market Bakery provides a delightful and high-quality solution, reinforcing its status as a must-visit local bakery.

Black Market Bakery

86 N Williams St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014, USA