It was an idea born out of travel.
That’s what Erin Williams, co-owner of Fancies Bakery, Market and Cafe, says of opening the one-of-a-kind eatery last year in Corrales. The space, located at 4940 Corrales Rd., is light and airy, reminiscent of European markets.
“When I travel, I go to specialty shops in Japan and Europe,†said Williams. “I wanted to open something in Corrales that didn’t exist here or in the Albuquerque metro area.â€
The bakery is a daytime interlude to the nighttime “elevated modern American cuisine” concept of Restaurant 4940, which is right next door.
To Williams, the bakery and restaurant are “sisters.â€
“I call them that because they play off of each other in different ways,†she said.
Opening the two spaces next to each other came together organically when Williams moved back to Corrales from California in 2001 to raise her son and found herself at a stopping point with her career when COVID hit. She spent the next six months planning out her next steps.
“I spent a lot of time in southern California with a design firm, helping companies launch their products all over the world,†she said.
After moving back to Corrales, she designed custom contemporary homes and had her work featured in magazines like Su Casa, Trend and the Santa Fean.
Williams felt that her travels lent an eye to curating products from all over the world that couldn’t be found anywhere else. She found a home for Fancies/4940 when she was approached by Corrales real estate agent Scott Norman and his son, Jace, who is a well-known Nickelodeon actor. They loved the ideas she had and became her business partners.
Fancies redux
In May, Fancies announced it would be temporarily closing for a few weeks to refresh and retool its menu and offerings in the shop. Williams redesigned the pastry menu to offer something new in Corrales that wasn’t on the menu anywhere else, like charcuterie boards and artisan sandwiches.
Williams said she saw new eateries like Mula’s opening in the old Corrales Bistro location, and they were serving similar menu items.
“I felt like we should compliment each other rather than compete,†she said.
The Fancies/4940 executive chef is Javier Montano, who has over 33 years of cooking experience in California and New Mexico.
Williams said the response to the new vibe and menu has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The big draw for Fancies is the atmosphere. There’s nothing like it. We are unique and we bring people together from all the surrounding towns. Our menu is meticulously built, and we are here to provide an experience,†Williams said.
Fancies Bakery, Market and Cafe is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Restaurant 4940 is open 5-9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and for brunch service from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Dinner reservations can be made at fanciescorrales.com.