Vinal Bakery and Vinal General Store’s Sarah Murphy (left) and Chloe Nolan (right).  Photos by Brian Samuels (www.briansamuelsphotography.com)(❁´◡`❁)

By Jeffrey Shwom

Now, I jokingly tell friends that I have never cared much about British things since we revolted in 1775. When Prince William and Princess Kate visited Greentown Labs in 2022, I went to Market Basket that day in support of local business (plus the parking lot was empty due to heavy security and road closures).

Revolution aside, when I learned that English muffins, much like the bagel, have really become an American story, my interest was piqued. And to then learn that Sarah Murphy’s story of creating her wonderful English muffins was similar to the originator of the American version of the bread, well…

According to gourmet food purveyor Harry & David, British expat Samuel Bath Thomas “found work in a New York City bakery and developed his own version of what he later trademarked as the English muffin. In 1880, he launched his own bakery and sold…a pre-cut, thinner version known for its signature nooks and crannies.”

Sarah, Owner and Pastry Chef of Vinal Bakery and Vinal General Store (and Somerville resident), created her version of the English muffin after working her way through the local bakery scene. She worked a long time at Joanne Chang’s Flour Bakery + Cafe, knowing she always wanted her own place with a great breakfast sandwich. So, she gained experience post-Flour “at a few professional shops so (the idea) was not a Flour duplicate.” Lucky for us, she ended up at Cambridge’s award winning Bagelsaurus. Mary Ting Hyatt started Bagelsaurus as a pop up in Brookline and Sarah got to hone her English muffins skills there.

What makes an English muffin? I got schooled quickly. “An English muffin has to be griddled, and has to be able to, like, hold a sandwich,” Sarah deftly relayed. “If you do not griddle, it is not an English muffin. If you cannot split it open, it’s a pancake. Ours are a little bigger so we finish them in the oven so they are not doughy.” Some of the currently available English muffin flavors include multigrain, pumpernickel (flavor of the month), French toast, and classic. The English muffin egg and cheese sandwiches (think of “Miss Maple” with her cheddar cheese and maple butter, or the “Sausage McVinal” with an over medium egg, cheddar cheese, turkey sausage, and spicy mayo) are divine. They even have a griddled meatloaf sandwich that was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

When Vinal Bakery opened, there was hesitation about not offering another bread. Sarah told me days before opening, “we were still thinking about two other breads. We thought ‘let’s ride with English muffins for a while.’” And they have never turned back and in fact, have turned their small business game up.

Known for their “Sandos, Suds, sundries & soft serve,” sister spot Vinal General Store next door has more of a lunch focus. The menu offers deli sandwiches, coffee and espresso, beer and wine, and soft serve, alongside food gifts and treats. Sarah said that is it “our take on retail goods.” They carry a mix of small, niche. US-made items. “They fit the food gifts (category). Great things to bring to a host of a party.” It is quite literally their take on a New England general store. The name Vinal is an ode to the street she’s lived on in Somerville and whose namesake, Robert A. Vinal, owned a mercantile building in Union Square that sold grains and groceries. Moreover, Sarah is from New Hampshire and Chloe Nolan, director of operations, who helped open the general store, is from the South Shore.

Sarah retold, “I opened (the bakery) very intentionally with a business plan. The general store was the opposite. It was ‘Let’s build a business plan to fit the space.’” Post-pandemic, a good relationship with the landlord and a fire in a laundromat created an opportunity for expansion.  “The landlord converted it to a white box and we said, ‘let’s take it.’ It gives us more space for the bakery.” Yum for all those involved.

Vinal Bakery and Vinal General Store are at 222 and 220 Somerville Avenue respectively, on the backside of the Police Headquarters and across from Rococo Florist. Visit www.vinalbakery.com and www.vinalgeneralstore.com.