Ike and Jane Forever

Over the last ten years, Athens locals have patronized Normaltown bakery Ike and Jane for all of their breakfast, baked goods and coffee needs. The bakery remained in the hearts of many, no matter where life took them. 

But all good things come to an end, this Athens staple included. Now former owner Corrie Jacobs announced the closing of Ike and Jane via Instagram, sharing news about change to the building’s lease.

“We found out about our lease changes November 4. We have such a great support system, but moving to a different part of town gives different problems or new struggles. 

We went through all of the avenues I could think of to fix it, and there wasn’t an answer. It was terrible, we’re mostly just crying all the time,” former owner Corrie Jacobs said. 

News of Ike and Jane closing quickly spread from online resources and word of mouth. When Ike and Jane announced their closing, the post blew up with with nearly 600 comments and generated the hashtag #ikeandjaneforever. Supporters and customers voiced their love and support for the bakery. 

“Y’all shipped me lemon bars halfway across the country to CO to surprise my Athens-native boyfriend for Valentine’s day. Thanks for bringing so much sweetness and joy into this world,” Kathryn Grabenstein said on Instagram. 

Final Farewell: Friends and family gather in front of Ike and Jane for the family photo and get together. “We have a really wide variety of customers. We’ve got people who are 60, 80, 20, high schoolers and families with little kids,” said former owner Corrie Jacobs.

“This is such sad news! I lived in Normaltown before yall opened and was so excited to have a coffee shop nearby. I walked a mile in the snow to get coffee when no one else was open! I moved away in 2011 but always stop by when in Athens. So many positive memories in your store,” commented @Carahebeling on the post. 

Jacobs started her journey when working in a coffee shop while she was in college at the University of Georgia. There she met her original co-owner and they started Ike and Jane. The name Ike and Jane comes from Jacobs’ original business partner’s grandparents. 

“We threw out a lot of names, and those two were the cutest. But it also happened that Nana Jane had a bakery that was in upstate New York. Legend has it that they were the first bakery that sold fig newtons in the United States,” Jacobs said.  

After working at a downtown Athens cafe for six years, Jacobs took her experience from working at a cafe and opened Ike and Jane. 

“We saw that there was a need for breakfast and coffee in this area. The history of this building was that it was originally black forest bakery, so people were used to coming here for baked goods and coffee,” Jacobs said. 

Since their opening, Ike and Jane has employed over 100 people, usually keeping a staff of around 20 at a time. For Jacobs her staff is her family. 

“There are five people who have been with us since we opened. One of my favorite things about my staff is that one of my employees has worked here since she was 18 and she turns 28 next week. Every year we make her a birthday cake, applesauce spice cake with a brown sugar cream cheese frosting,” Jacobs said. 

For the community, Ike and Jane was like a second home. 

“We have been in several times a month since you opened! Our kids have grown up eating your doughnuts and bagels. You’ve supplied precious cookies and cupcakes at their birthday parties and have been a part of our family since we had our first 10 years ago. We will miss you so much,” commented @deannacozart under a post on the Ike and Jane Instagram page. 

After spending a decade of collecting and creating recipes, making friendships within the store and the community, and becoming a routine in the life of many, this Athens legacy comes to an end. 

“I’ve been so happy, I feel so loved. I wish it was different, but it is nice to know that we’ve created a community that people are upset about losing. Just to know we’ve created anything at all,” said Jacobs.