Proof Bread will stay in Tucson, keeping both former Cafe Francais locations

Proof Bread will stay in Tucson after its October pop-up. The Phoenix sourdough bakery and stone flour mill said it will keep both former Cafe Francais locations open. Proof announced the decision on Instagram Tuesday. Both shops now run 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

How the pop-up became permanent

Proof opened at 7831 E. Wrightstown Road, Suite 113, and 3855 E. Broadway Blvd. on Oct. 9. At the time, the bakery planned to stay through October and decide afterward. According to the Instagram post, Proof's team met with Cafe Francais owners Noelle and Daniel Martinez shortly after the couple decided to close. Proof then committed to the two spaces for October "to see if it was possible to help."

Customer response shaped the decision. Proof said new customers visit each week, and many have returned several times.

"We have found a huge embrace for our approach to baking as a sourdough bakery and mill," the post said.

Lease and staffing

Proof will finish out the Cafe Francais lease at the Wrightstown location. Meanwhile, the bakery will stay open at the Broadway location.

The Tucson team is growing. A former Mesa baker, who moved to Tucson less than a month before Proof arrived, has rejoined the company. Additionally, one Cafe Francais employee agreed over the weekend to join the Tucson team.

Baking continues in Mesa. The bakery team there bakes overnight each day and delivers to the Tucson shops. Culinary Director Jamie is helping lead the Tucson launch.

What to expect

Proof said it will build its Tucson presence gradually. Some practices it developed over a decade in Phoenix may take time to take shape here. "We will be taking this journey step by step and not too fast," the post reads.

The bakery said it has invested in its mill, bakeries, and staff over the last few years. It added that Tucson has already started to support that structure. Both locations are open 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

For background, read Tucson Foodie's earlier coverage of the Proof Bread pop-up at the former Cafe Francais locations and the closure of Cafe Francais. For more options, see the guide to the best bakeries in Tucson. Visit proofbread.com for more on the bakery.