‘A Part of the Town’: ‘Flour Water Salt Bread’ Opens on East Avenue

The newest business in town, a hugely popular area bakery, opened Thursday.

Inside ‘Flour Water Salt Bread’ on opening day—April 24, 2025. The bakery is located at 53 East Ave. in New Canaan. Credit: Terry Dinan

Flour Water Salt Bread, located at 53 East Ave. (next to La Pescaderia), is a fully sourdough American interpretation of a traditional French boulangerie, offering sourdough breads, croissants, bagels, pastries, English muffins and more.

The cozy, brightly lit space was hopping with new customers as well as those who’d already discovered the business and baker/owner Robert VanKeuren, who opened his first location in Darien seven years ago.

Flour Water Salt Bread opened April 24, 2025 at 53 East Ave. in New Canaan. Credit: Michael Dinan

“It’s going great,” VanKeuren told NewCanaanite.com from behind the counter on his first day in business here. We’ve had a nice steady flow of customers, a lot of happy faces. And we’re super psyched to be a part of the town. A lot of other businesses have come in and gotten some pastry and brought gifts.”

Asked about those friendly fellow local businesses, VanKeuren said Cherry Street Cheese brought gifts and “Franco’s Wine came down the bottle of Prosecco.”

Inside ‘Flour Water Salt Bread’ on opening day—April 24, 2025. The bakery is located at 53 East Ave. in New Canaan. Credit: Terry Dinan

“It’s just amazing,” he said. “We’re super psyched to be part of the community here.”

Flour Water Salt Bread is offering free coffee through its first two weeks.

The bakery’s most popular items in the first hours of operation in New Canaan included bomboloni, VanKeuren said.

“That’s our brioche donut,” he said. “Our brown butter sourdough chocolate chip cookies are big sellers, as well as our coffee cake. And then bagels. We’re doing a hot bagel service here. So toasted with cultured butter or our house-made schmear.”

Flour Water Salt Bread in New Canaan—here on Instagram—is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Pre-orders are now open.