Café in central post office's car wash

In 2021, Jumbo Bakery in Aarhus (Denmark) opened a café and bread shop in Ankersgade.

The atmosphere at Jumbo, which is both a bakery and a café, is relaxed. Guests sit both indoors and outdoors in a slightly different setting from a typical café. In the central post office's former car wash close to Ringgaden, but far from the city's other café areas, this café and shop are housed in a naturally long and high-ceiling space. The space has many qualities and after having been a car wash, it functioned as a practice room for the Aarhus Postal Orchestra. The floor is rough and has traces of its former function, while high windows provide a pleasant, diffused light. Ceilings and walls are partly clad in tiles and white Troldtekt panels.

The space is thus steeped in history and the interior design is further layered by using a mix of rustic second-hand furniture and newer pieces made for the space, such as the bread rack designed by Laura Kjær Studio. The contrasts between the industrial, rough and recycled on the one hand and the carpentry work and uncompromising bread and cake on the other hand are very inspiring. 

Recycled ceilings

The neighbouring premises were used as a garage for servicing the mail trucks and is now home to coffee roaster Mood, which partly owns and supplies quality coffee to Jumbo, among others. In both spaces, the original white Troldtekt ceilings have been retained, as they continue to fulfil their important function as a sound absorber. Jumbo and Mood in Ankersgade opened in 2021, after the first Jumbo Bakery at the port of Aarhus (Mindet 4) became a very popular café and bakery. Bread and cakes are produced here in the same building that originally served as a shelter for people from around the harbour. Working with sustainability and the reuse of places and materials is something Jumbo is very conscious of in its business.