In at least one way, Mugs Kepka’s career has come full circle. As a teen-ager, the Black Wolf native worked on Ellsworth’s 1st Street at Bircher’s Dairy, first helping to deliver milk and then as a car hop at the drive-in.

Fast forward to the present and Kepka — after a life filled with a variety of jobs — is back on 1st Street, this time with her own business. She is next door to the Ellsworth City Hall parking lot, the former location of Bircher’s Dairy.

Monday, Kepka opened the doors of Mugs’ Downtown Bohemian Bakery in the building that previously housed Stephanie Zamrzla’s bakery and restaurant. Before that it was a flower and gift shop, which in the early years was owned by the late George and Goldie Jelinek.

Kepka is no stranger to downtown. She was a fixture for years on Douglas Avenue at Boot’s Plant and Flower Shop, now the Petal Place. She also has been known to help out at the Classy Lady, across the street.

“I love to bake. I’ve always baked for people around town and we did catering from the flower shop,” Kepka said this past week as she worked to ready the store for business.

The bakery’s menu reflects the lessons she was taught by three generations of her family. She grew up in the home at Black Wolf that included seven children — six girls and a boy. They often visited grandparents and great-grandparents who lived nearby.

Part of the routine when Kepka visited her Grandma Malir was to do something fun — crafts, baking — after the chores were done.

“We’re all pretty creative,” Kepka said of her sisters and brother.

With her Grandmother Kepka, she went to Wilson to help with the baking for the town’s annual After Harvest Czech Festival.

Kolaches, a Czech pastry, will be available — apricot is Kepka’s favorite — at the bakery. Along with cinnamon rolls, long johns, cream puffs, breads and turnovers. Her cake donuts will be baked instead of deep fried because it’s healthier.

A lunch bar will include such items as pizza pockets, hammies, baked potatoes with toppings and soup when the weather turns cooler. Kepka also will accept orders for cakes, cupcakes, houska — a Czech bread with almonds and raisins — and other items. She already has done a breakfast buffet for 20 and made enough donuts with one order to serve 30. Kepka’s three children were home over the Labor Day weekend to help her clean the building. Daughter Becky designed the bakery’s logo. And Kepka’s sisters and brother also have helped prepare for Monday’s opening. “My family has backed me 100 percent,” she said. This past Friday, Kepka prepared samples, mainly to get the feel of the bakery’s ovens. “Are you sure you’re going to open Monday?” asked a man who was at the bakery to install cable. “I’ll be here at 7 o’clock,” Kepka told him. The bakery is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to noon Saturday.