CENTRAL CITY - In a historic 1882 home in Central City, the scent of freshly baked bread now fills the air. Central City Sourdough Company was founded by Julianna “Jules” Korman, a self-taught baker who started the business in January 2025.

The idea came from her own search for food that made her feel good. “I have to be pretty mindful of what I eat due to some health issues,” she said. “I tried yeast bread first, and it was good, but just didn’t sit right with me.” 

A friend shared an eight-year-old Gilpin-born sourdough starter, and once she baked her first loaf, she was hooked. “It tasted incredible, and I felt great,” she said. “I was encouraged by friends and family to start a little business.”

Korman has a marketing degree and a long history of self-employment. She has worked in real estate, sales, start-ups, and event management, and even had a few turns as a working artist. “I’ve never been a 9-to-5 kinda gal,” she said. “I’m always trying new ideas and diving into what excites me.”

She operates under a cottage license, which allows her to bake from home and sell directly to customers. She uses 100% organic flour and sources organic ingredients whenever possible. Every batch is mixed by hand. “The joy is in the hands-on process,” she said. “Plus, it’s an amazing arm workout.”

Korman believes that love for the craft makes a difference. “If someone loves what they’re doing, what they make will be that much better,” she said. 

“I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and I wanted to be proud of my product before I sold it.” She has made more than 600 loaves this year and says no two kitchens are alike. 

“Since sourdough is fermentation, it relies heavily on the environment, so every kitchen produces something a little different.”

“I truly love sharing healthy, delicious, and beautiful food with my community,” she said. “Plus, I really love playing with dough. The tactile sensation is therapeutic for me.”

Central City Sourdough Company currently offers weekly pickups at the Gilpin Arts Gallery at 117 Eureka Street. Each week features the classic “OG” sourdough and one rotating flavor. Korman encourages customers to follow along on social media for updates.

The business is small batch and local by design. “I still have to work to pay the bills, so I’m just allowing the sourdough business to grow slowly and organically,” she said.

For now, it’s a one-person operation, but Jules is content to let it evolve naturally, one loaf at a time.

Contact Central City Sourdough Company: Weekly pickups at Gilpin Arts Gallery, 117 Eureka Street, Central City. Mail to PO Box 84, Central City, CO 80427. Email: centralcitysourdough@gmail.com. Facebook and Instagram: @centralcitysourdoughcompany