<p>Liz and Jason Menke will operate their new business, Sea Level Bakery and Coffee, in the same cottage that housed Waves of Grain Bakery. The Menkes have three children, from left, Paloma Menke, 3; Maddie Menke, 6; and Lucie Menke, 1.</p>

Try not to silently salivate when listening to Liz and Jason Menke describe their menu items in agonizing detail.

For example:

An acai bowl loaded with yogurt, granola, banana and other fruit, offered for breakfast and lunch.

A warm, fresh-baked croissant infused with two strips of chocolate, better known by its French name pain au chocolat.

A mocha brewed with homemade ganache, a chocolate sauce made by pouring heated cream over chopped chocolate.

Painful, yes?

In early March, the Menkes new business, Sea Level Bakery + Coffee, will open on South Hemlock Street.

The bakery will inhabit the same snug, two-story cottage that housed Waves of Grain Bakery for seven years before the owners, Hillary and Jason Fargo, relocated to Portland last year.

The community seems pretty excited that the Menkes are reopening the place as a bakery, said Eric Johnson, executive director of the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce. There were a lot of people upset that Waves of Grain left, (which) had a pretty loyal client base. So theyre excited that the new business will continue in the same vein.

The Menkes are themselves huge Waves of Grain fans and are well aware of the local loss felt after the bakerys departure.

Their business was so warm and cozy and personable, and I think that really encompasses the kind of business I want to run, too, Liz Menke said. I just want to (have) a space where people can relax and feel that community here, even (on) the stormy days here in Cannon Beach.

As the Fargos prepared to put Cannon Beach behind them, they gave the Menkes advice and encouragement, even though the Menkes were living in Lincoln City at the time and only just starting to entertain the idea of running a bakery in Waves of Grains place.

(The Fargos) were kind of pulling for us, in essence, Jason Menke said. I think they truly did feel bad about leaving Cannon Beach … they saw us as a younger family that could do something similar and kind of fill that need.

French twist

Because Waves of Grain left a large cookie-shaped hole in the community, the Menkes know that they already have a ready-made customer base.

And they see no reason to make lots of changes.

This is a new business, but its kind of not a new business. Were kind of coming in to something that people are expecting, Jason Menke said. Well put our own touch on things, a different style, but (have the) same types of offerings, same scratch-baked goods with really high-quality ingredients.

The Menkes love story began in France, and both have roots in the country and an appreciation for its food. So I can say, projecting into the future, this cafe will have a French twist to it, Liz Menke said.

Except for introducing their own croissant and using their own recipes, Sea Level will deliver the same staple baked goods and pastries that its predecessor became famous for: French breads, country loafs, baguettes, brioches, quiches, scones, cinnamon buns (sticky and dry), and the list goes on — all made the morning they enter the display case.

They also will have a sandwich-and-soup-of-the-day that incorporates their own baked bread.

On the coffee side of things, the Menkes will use Sleepy Monk and Stumptown roasts.

For their more sugary drinks, they will have two homemade syrups available, a vanilla and another to be determined.

In addition to the typical services espressos, macchiatos, lattes, mochas, etc. they plan to have a pour-over bar, where the customers select their desired bean and the barista manually brews their coffee right in front of them.

And to keep the waiting lines short, they may add an honor bar for their batch brewed coffees, where customers can put their money into a container and fill up their cups without a cashier as a go-between.

We will give (the coffee) the same care as the baked goods, Jason Menke said.

Customer appreciation

Sea Levels opening date is a little bit flexible right now, Jason Menke said, adding that he and his wife are tentatively shooting for sometime in March. Theyre currently remodeling the interior.

Soon they will launch a short Kickstarter campaign to raise the final funds.

Before their grand opening, they plan to hold a soft opening for their Kickstarter backers along with a ribbon-cutting ceremony through the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Their operating hours likely will be 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Monday.

As it happens, two of their employees — Jordan Guenther and Zaxary Price — are Waves of Grains alumni, which Liz Menke considers a vote of confidence on their part.

Jason Menke wonders whether some of the former Waves of Grain customers who summer in Cannon Beach, and who didnt know the bakery closed last September, will even realize its a different business.

Many folks in the Cannon Beach community who lamented losing Waves of Grain have already gone out of their way to let the Menkes know their bakery is desired.

Every time we flip on the lights when we walk in here, people are coming by (asking), When are you opening? Jason Menke said.

The Menkes who live in midtown Cannon Beach with their three daughters, Maddie, 6; Paloma, 3; and Lucie, 1 believe they have settled in for the long haul. They envision their children apprenticing for them one day, safely solidifying Sea Level Bakery + Coffee as a family business.

We are coasties at heart, and I cant see us living inland, Liz Menke said. This is a dream and a lifelong business, I think.