The Oxbow Public Market, scheduled to open in the fall of 2007 in Napa’s burgeoning Oxbow District, has announced the addition of the Model Bakery, which will bake fresh artisan breads on the premises, along with morning pastries, sandwiches/panini, pizza, prepared foods and coffee drinks.

“The addition of The Model Bakery is a tremendous step forward in the realization of the overall tenant mix at the Market,” said Steve Carlin, founder and CEO of the Oxbow Public Market. “Coupled with Taylor’s Automatic Refresher and the Fatted Calf artisanal charcuterie and butcher shop, the Model Bakery completes the Annex portion of the market, which will be a wonderful complement to the main market hall.”

The Model Bakery has been part of downtown St. Helena for more than 80 years. Their artisan bakers still use original, 100-year-old brick ovens built by Italian masons in the early 1900’s. The Model Bakery specializes in artisan breads made with organic stone ground flours and the highest quality local and seasonal ingredients, as well as a complete range of European-styled breakfast pastries.

Karen Mitchell has been the proprietor of the Model Bakery for over 20 years. A successful caterer in the Napa Valley, Mitchell purchased the bakery in the 1980s, restoring its historic atmosphere and charm. Her daughter Sarah is managing partner of the bakery, and both are dedicated to authentic, artisan baking traditions. Utilizing the original brick ovens built into the walls in the 1920s, all the baking is done fresh daily.

“We’re very excited about this project and are busy in the planning of our new location,”  Sarah Mitchell Hansen said. “Since hiring our new head baker Rob Alexander, the quality of our breads and pastries is some of the best we’ve ever produced. Rob will be very instrumental in bringing the same outstanding quality to our new Oxbow Annex location.

“With the addition of the Model Bakery, the Oxbow Public Market project is 70 percent leased, with more exciting developments to be announced in the near future,” Carlin said. “Construction is well underway and we remain on schedule to open in the fall of 2007.”

Previously announced as market tenants are:

• La Frasca, a new dining venture by chefs Donna Scala and Scott Warner of Bistro Don Giovanni

• Long Meadow Ranch of St. Helena, a organic farming operation and purveyor of fine food

• Roli Roti, grilled meats and poultry

• The Fatted Calf, an artisanal charcuterie and butcher shop producing hand-crafted products using high quality, natural ingredients

• The Oxbow Market Wine Merchant and Wine Bar

• Taylor’s Automatic Refresher

 • Anette's Chocolate Factory

 • Pica-Pica, featuring a variety of native Venezuelan foods

 • Utensil, the ultimate source for culinary antiques

• Three Twins Organic Ice Cream,  producing certified organic ice creams, one of only two known such producers in the U.S.

• The Olive Press, dedicated to everything having to do with olives and olive oil.

The Oxbow Public Market will be located within the emerging Oxbow District of Napa.  The 40,000 square foot marketplace, which includes an outdoor deck with seating along the Napa River, will be open seven days a week.