A Love Letter to Bread
What started as a dream in a tiny kitchen has grown into Portland's favorite neighborhood bakery.
It Started with a Starter
In 2018, Maria Chen was working as a software engineer, spending her nights and weekends baking bread. Her 50-year-old sourdough starter - passed down from her grandmother in Taiwan - produced loaves that friends couldn't stop raving about.
"Start a bakery," they said. Easy for them to say. But after one too many 4am baking sessions before her day job, Maria knew it was time to make a choice. She chose bread.
James, her husband, quit his marketing job to help. They found a tiny space on Hawthorne Boulevard, bought a used deck oven, and Sweet Rise was born.
Our Values
Time-Honored Techniques
We use traditional methods passed down through generations. Our sourdough ferments for 24+ hours, our croissants are laminated by hand.
Local Ingredients
We source flour from regional mills, eggs from local farms, and fruit from Oregon orchards whenever possible.
Small Batch Quality
We bake in small batches throughout the day to ensure everything is fresh. When it's gone, it's gone.
Community First
We donate unsold bread to local shelters and partner with neighborhood schools for baking education programs.
Meet Our Team
Maria Chen
Co-Founder & Head Baker
Trained in Paris and San Francisco, Maria brings 15 years of artisan baking experience. Her sourdough starter is over 50 years old.
James Chen
Co-Founder & Operations
James handles the business side so Maria can focus on baking. He also makes a mean espresso at the counter.
Sophie Laurent
Pastry Chef
Our croissant queen. Sophie trained at Le Cordon Bleu and brings authentic French technique to every laminated pastry.
The Sweet Rise Story
The Beginning
Opened our doors on Hawthorne Boulevard with just Maria, James, and a dream.
Sophie Joins
Welcomed Sophie Laurent to the team, bringing authentic French pastry technique.
Community Support
The pandemic tested us, but our community showed up. We pivoted to online ordering and survived.
Expansion
Moved into a larger space, added a wood-fired oven, and launched our custom cake program.
Growing Strong
Serving hundreds of happy customers daily, while staying true to our small-batch roots.
Come Say Hello
We'd love to meet you! Stop by for a croissant and see where the magic happens.
Visit Us