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Pie master/entrepreneur Derek Kaplan and the talented team behind Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop have been whisking up extraordinary confections in their Wynwood and Coconut Grove shops for years. Now, this one-of-a-kind Miami dessert destination has announced the relocation of the Wynwood shop into a new space.
Since opening in 2014, Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop has evolved into a must-try destination for locals and visitors. Offering a selection of classic and over-the-top selection of pies, cakes, milkshakes and other delectable confections, the brainchild of former Miami Station 1 Firefighter Derek Kaplan has certainly earned his title as the Magic City’s don of dessert.
Now, Kaplan’s first brick-and mortar location, usually sporting a lengthy line of treat-seekers is moving across the street to a larger location. Expanding on his success in the Wynwood market, the new 25-seat bake shop is located just three blocks south from the original Wynwood shop boasting a much larger space with plentiful seating. At 2,000 square feet, the new location at 2540 N. Miami Ave. will be about triple the size of the current/original shop which has closed permanently.
“This relocation was long overdue,” said Kaplan, who notes that the new store is across the street from the commissary space he originally used during his food truck days. “We’ve grown exponentially since we opened our tiny shop in 2014 and desperately needed the additional square footage. Though it’s a good problem to have in these uncertain times, truthfully, we’ve completely outgrown the space. As we expand our offerings and refresh the brand, we needed a space that works logistically and delivered a better experience for our customers. I’m thrilled to still be in Wynwood, the neighborhood where the bake shop first came to be.”
At the new Wynwood shop, cakes, pies and savory items will have their own separate display cases for a more customer-friendly experience. Kaplan also will offer his own line of hand-churned ice cream inspired by the bakery’s titillating goodies; his Coconut Grove shop has been slinging frozen cups of creamy goodness since September 2020, shortly after he graduated from Penn State University’s Ice Cream School.
A state-of-the-art kitchen will be hidden in the back where brownies, cookies, and other items will be baked onsite with pies and cakes made daily at Kaplan’s Little Haiti bakery.
Staying true to its Wynwood roots, the new location will retain an industrial, artsy feel, with décor in sync with the laidback atmosphere. Guests can expect Instagrammable neon signage and a hand-painted, pie-themed mural stretched across walls.
2021 marked a big year for Derek Kaplan with the birth of his first child, a son, Peyton Wallace, and the opening of his new Wynwood store. In the wake of a challenging year for everyone in the food service industry, Kaplan’s entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well as he looks forward to expanding the brand beyond Miami-Dade.
“I’ve always had big dreams for Fireman Derek’s,” Kaplan said, fondly recalling those early days baking when he wasn’t on duty as a Miami-Dade firefighter. “Broward and Palm Beach County have a number of neighborhoods that would be perfect for future stores. We intend to expand into these new markets. Though we’ve been around for close to a decade, I like think we’re just getting started.”
Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop Wynwood is located at 2540 N. Miami Ave.; Telephone 786-703-3623; https://firemandereks.com/.
