Take two good friends, add donuts and bakery items, toss in nicknames and top it off with a couple of shots of espresso. KayBug’s Bakery will make its debut at 203 Depot St. with a soft opening within a few days and a grand opening planned for Sept. 12 during the annual car show in Marthasville.

Two best friends are the heart of KayBug’s. Kayla Engelage, (Kay), and Taylor Thayer (Bugs) make up KayBug’s. They met through the men in their lives, Heath Engelage and Matt Thayer. Both women have four children. Both love to cook and can’t wait to spend the early morning hours together. Their “bestie time” will be prepping the bakery for its 5 a.m. opening, offering freshly baked goodies and breakfast sandwiches for the community.

Warren County is home for Engelage and Thayer. They have large families who have provided support for the venture. They both believe that although their work hours will begin before the crack of dawn, they will also have plenty of time to spend with their families after the bakery closes, helping with homework or attending school functions.

“This is our act of service to the community,” said Engelage. “I want you to walk through our doors and feel like you’ve just stepped into your best friend’s house.”

Thayer said their goal is to provide a place where families and friends can gather and where strangers become friends.

“Kayla is the sourdough queen,” said Thayer. “I’ll be in charge of the donuts, which is a family recipe.”

Thayer said her donuts are like “selling air,” with a fluffy, textured crust.

“The flour and yeast are special,” said Thayer. “We will have iced, regular yeast-risen fried donuts and cake donuts. We’ll have long johns and, of course, donut holes.”

In addition to donuts, the bakery will offer biscuits and gravy, breakfast sandwiches, parfaits, fruit cups, cinnamon rolls, fresh baked bread and Cedar Creek brand coffee.

Watch KayBug’s Facebook page for information about soft openings that will be coming soon, specifically to test their products and ease into the business. Beginning Sept. 12, bakery hours will be weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.; closed on Wednesdays; 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday; and 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday.

The pair have a lot of ideas they will implement as time allows. Engelage will eventually offer sourdough loaves to take home and increase her sourdough items, adding bagels and cookies.

“We are blessed,” said Engelage. “It’s exciting and nerve wracking. We want the food to be good. It definitely takes a village to accomplish that.”

Both women say their husbands will be stepping in to make the dream possible. Extended family members are their best fans.

“We hope we are helping bring life to the community we grew up in,” said Thayer. “Driving through Marthasville is just like coming home. Community and kids are very important to us.”

Thayer said she can’t wait to offer chocolate milk and a donut to a kid just coming off the Katy Trail.

“I want to be part of their memories,” she said.

In the future, they plan to offer even more items, including allergy-safe items for those with gluten or Alpha-gal allergies. Other plans include offering live music and extended hours during special events.

KayBug’s is located in The Outpost Building in downtown Marthasville.