Kelsey Munger
Monumental Market | Jamaica Plain, MA
JULY 2024
For Kelsey Munger, learning to bake came out of necessity. Born with a severe nut allergy, she found it difficult to find nut-free baked goods to satisfy her sweet tooth, so she decided to make her own. At 14, she got her first industry job at a local bakery in her hometown, and when she moved to Connecticut to earn her degree in social work, Munger managed her college’s student-run cafe. She continued to work as a recipe developer and in bakeries and coffee shops, specifically choosing small, locally owned businesses to learn all she could before opening a spot of her own. Unable to go to culinary school due to her allergy, Munger earned her Masters in Gastronomy from Boston University instead and, in 2017, started her own baking business, Lavender Bee.
For the next year, Munger popped up around Boston and in farmers markets until she felt ready to move to a brick-and-mortar. In February 2020, she opened Monumental Market, a nut-free bakery, coffee shop, record store, and, most importantly, community gathering space. In addition to selling her comforting, allergy-friendly baked goods, Munger prioritizes highlighting small businesses, showcasing local vendors and products in her store. She meticulously researches every ingredient that goes into her bakes to ensure each is 100% nut-free, and offers a wide range of accessible goods; from her gluten-free chai cake to her vegan scones. With plans to open a second Monumental Market in the future, Munger will continue her mission of advocating for small businesses while providing community-centered spaces and thoughtful, comforting baked goods that anyone, no matter their allergies, can enjoy.
