Titus Bakery partners with Reynolds Farm Equipment
When you want breakfast, going to a farm and lawn equipment dealership may not be your first thought, but in Atlanta it should be.
Titus Bakery and Deli has partnered with Reynold Farm Equipment at 1451 E. 276th St., Atlanta, to fill in the gap left by the closing of the Combine Café, and by all reports it is a very welcome addition to northern Hamilton County. Titus at Reynolds opened Monday, Aug. 10, and both businesses have seen several new customers from this unique partnership.
“I don’t know where all the people have come from, but they are coming!” Titus owner Terry Rake told the Reporter. “I can’t tell you how many people have come in. One family came from Shelbyville. I know some of the people are new to Reynolds, who have not been in there before, and some are their customers. The neighbors who live in the area have been all very nice and I think they are pretty happy we’re there. Somebody even dropped off flowers today [Friday]. It has been very welcoming.”
Rake calls Titus a destination business, and clearly people are coming from all over Central Indiana to visit the new location.
“There have been a lot of people we have never seen here before, but who were familiar with Titus,” Reynolds Farm Equipment Public Relations Director Mike Lawson said. “The Titus name has been a long, strong name in the bakery business – even more so in the last few years with the deli business out of Westfield. Then there were people who were just glad to see there was something up this way rather than having to drive up to Kokomo, down to Westfield, or even take a hop, skip and a jump to Cicero. Right along on U.S. 31 it gives them another opportunity and something a little different.”
Rake told The Reporter the connection is unlike anything she has ever experienced.
“The people there are so nice and it is just a great fit,” Rake said. “Two generation of families have been in these businesses. I’m third generation and Gary Reynolds is second generation. Both companies have similar strong values. Giving back to the community is one of those. The focus on providing a great product. With both companies, we have really earned our reputations here in Central Indiana.”
Lawson said the Reynolds family could not be happier with this new partnership.
“We are super excited,” Lawson said. “Titus started in business 40 years ago themselves as a family-owned business over in Lebanon. We also have a store over in Lebanon. I have known of them for many, many years. When the opportunity came after we had closed out café due to COVID, it gave us an opportunity to revamp and figure out what we wanted to do next.”
Lawson told The Reporter this partnership reminded him of words of wisdom from his grandfather.
“My grandpa Reynolds used to say, ‘Mike, timing is everything,’” Lawson said. “About two days before anybody knew what was going to happen with restaurants due to COVID, our chef and his wife from the Combine Café told us they wanted to put their notice in and do something else.”
Two days later the Gov. Holcomb announced restaurants would need shut down for the pandemic. That gave the Reynolds family time to think about what they wanted to do next with the café space.
An example of how this business is a true partnership comes in the form of sandwiches.
“When we had our own café, breakfast sandwiches were a big thing, so my uncle stressed that if we opened this, he wanted to see a couple hot breakfast sandwiches,” Lawson said.
Serving hot breakfast sandwiches is unique to this Titus location.
“There are three of them that we are not doing at any other Titus Bakery,” Rake said. “We have developed this for Reynolds and we have some unique names which have been very well-received.”
Lawson told The Reporter he enjoys both the sandwiches and their names.
“One of them – trust me on this, they very effectively named it – is the Hogger,” Lawson said. “It is a hoagie bun with salami, ham and bacon on it plus three eggs and cheese – oh my gosh! It is one of those sandwiches that you either have to come in hungry or want to share it with your spouse or a friend.”
According to Lawson, all the tables in the café have ample space to conform to social distancing guidelines. They also offer outside seating.
Titus Bakery and Deli at Reynolds is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Reynold Farm Equipment is open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturdays until noon or 4 p.m. – depending on the season.
You will never be disappointed with any of the sandwiches either breakfast or lunch. The owner and employees are wonderful people. Stop in its a must try.