Proof Bread is opening 2 new Valley shops. Here's when and where

A local sourdough bakery is on the rise. In addition to its three existing Valley shops, Proof Bread plans to bring its bread to downtown Phoenix and Gilbert.

“The growth has been crazy,” says Jon Przybyl, co-owner of Proof.

Proof Bread was founded in 2014 by Jared Allen. Przybyl and his wife, Amanda Abou-Eid, were loyal customers who bought the business in 2017, initially baking out of their garage. They opened their first brick-and-mortar space in downtown Mesa in 2021. In the years since, they have opened locations in North Phoenix and Litchfield Park.

Now, they're gearing up for more growth.

Proof’s forthcoming downtown location is anticipated to open later this spring. With the buildout underway at the 600-square-foot storefront in the ECO PHX apartment building on Roosevelt Street and Third Avenue, the team has occasionally set up a tent out front, selling loaves on weekends and at First Fridays. Przybyl says joining such a walkable area is “a whole new ballgame."

“It’s a really cool community,” he says. “It will be different than anything we’ve done before.”

Because of its small size, bread and pastries won’t be baked at the downtown shop. They'll be brought in from Mesa. Instead, Przybyl says the focus is on creating a “fun space to hang out.” The new shop will include plenty of bread and pastries for purchase, along with indoor seating and a patio.

In addition to the downtown shop, Proof also has plans to open an outpost in Gilbert. The East Valley spot will be within the Modera Higley Commons, near Ray and Higley roads and less than a mile from Agritopia. Proof Gilbert is anticipated to open in January 2026 and will have the largest dining area of all of the bakery's locations, with 60 seats inside and out.

Both new locations will include a kids’ area — already a fan-favorite feature at Proof’s north Phoenix location — featuring a child-sized kitchenette, shopping cart and toy produce. Przybyl says it’s a small touch to help out parents and make families feel welcome.

“We want to be that community bakery that’s super connected at the root level to sustenance, and I don’t think that’s limited to the food we make. It’s the kind of connections we make in the community,” he says.

As the company expands, its operations are also adjusting. When Przybyl and Abou-Eid opened Proof's North Phoenix bakery two years ago, they added a mill. Now, they’re milling their own flour and have acquired more space in the building so that it can become the primary production kitchen for Proof’s goods.

“You’ll actually be able to see the team shaping bread and rolling out pastries,” Przybyl says.

Ukrainian baker Sofiia Terebova has recently joined the team as Proof’s creative director. Thanks to her input, Przybyl says customers can expect to see more specials on a menu that already includes staples such as country bread, morning buns and chocolate croissants.

With many changes in the works, Proof continues to rise.

"We’re doing things now we couldn’t dream of doing in the garage,” Przybyl says.

Proof Bread

Opening this spring: 301 W. Roosevelt St.
Opening in January 2026: 3089 E. Ray Road, Gilbert