Michelle Nicholson and The Flour Girl Bakery Café

Michelle Nicholson, founder of The Flour Girl Bakery Café in Hebron, Connecticut, exemplifies entrepreneurial resilience and community leadership. Launching her bakery as a home-based cottage food business during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Michelle grew Flour Girl into an enterprise with 40 employees in just four years.

With the support of SBA financing through Berkshire Bank and CTSBDC business advising, Michelle opened a 1,000-square-foot retail bakery in 2021. She expanded again by acquiring and merging with a nearby café, creating a vibrant Main Street destination. In 2023, she added an 800-square-foot event space, "The Dooryard," and another expansion — an 1,800-square-foot building — is underway for 2025.

A serial entrepreneur with a background in hospitality, marketing, and nonprofit leadership, Michelle combines business savvy with a passion for community. Flour Girl sources local ingredients, partners with nonprofits for fundraising, and fosters a welcoming space for both customers and employees. Michelle’s efforts earned her the 2023 AHM Community Changemaker Award and a spot on the Hartford Business Journal’s 2024 40 Under 40 list.

In addition to leading her business, Michelle serves as Chair of Hebron’s Economic Development Commission and as a board member for the Connecticut River Valley Chamber of Commerce. Her dedication to community, growth, and employee development sets her apart as a shining example of how small businesses can be powerful forces for good.