Pie master/entrepreneur Derek Kaplan and the team behind Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop have been whisking up confections in their Wynwood and Coconut Grove shops for years. Now, ahead of what’s shaping up to be their busiest holiday season yet, the South Florida dessert destination is launching its first Broward County location. On Saturday, November 5, Fireman Derek’s downtown Fort Lauderdale bake shop will officially open its doors.
Since the 2014 opening of its first brick-and-mortar location in Wynwood, Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop has been offering a selection of pies, cakes, milkshakes and other confections, the brainchild of former Miami firefighter, Derek Kaplan. Kaplan’s celebrated concept is expanding to the Broward County market. Located on Federal Highway, just north of Broward Boulevard, the new bake shop is 1,500 square-feet – the second-largest store – and has plentiful seating.
“Our move into the Broward market was long overdue,” says Kaplan in a statement, who notes that the new Fort Lauderdale location situated between Victoria Park and Flagler Village, is an emerging hotspot with excellent foot traffic. “We’ve grown exponentially since we opened our tiny Wynwood shop in 2014. Though it’s a good problem to have in these uncertain times, truthfully, we’ve been dying to bring Fireman Derek’s to Fort Lauderdale. As we continue to develop our business and refresh the brand, we need a space that works logistically and delivers a better experience for our customers. I’m thrilled to be expanding into a neighborhood where my bake shop can thrive.”
At the new Fort Lauderdale shop, cakes, pies and savory items will have their own separate display cases for a more customer-friendly experience. Kaplan will also offering his own line of hand-churned ice cream inspired by the bakery’s signature goodies; his Coconut Grove shop has been slinging frozen cups of confections 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 pot pies, empanadas and cookies 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 artsy feel, with neon signage and décor in sync with the laidback atmosphere.
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. 2022 should provide more momentum with the opening of his third Fireman Derek’s location. In the wake of a challenging time for everyone in the food service industry, Kaplan’s entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well as he looks forward to expanding the brand even further. “I’ve always had big dreams for Fireman Derek’s” states Kaplan, fondly recalling those early days baking when he wasn’t on duty as a Miami firefighter. “Both Broward and Palm Beach County have a number of neighborhoods that would be perfect for future stores. We intend to expand into new markets. Though we’ve been around for close to a decade, I think we’re just getting started.”
Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop – Fort Lauderdale is located at 250 North Federal Highway, Suite 1.
