welcome

About Us

Suzu’s

a Japanese Bakery

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A combination of East and West that will delight the eyes and palate with tailored tastes that are less sweet, introducing Japanese textures and flavors, such as: matcha, yuzu, and sweetened red bean.

114 N. Walnut Street

Located in the heart of downtown Champaign, Illinois,

serving Champaign-Urbana community, the student population of the University of Illinois, and the surrounding communities in Central Illinois. Established in 2020, Suzu’s operates in the storefront of the original G. R. Grubb & Company Building.

Suzu’s is a Japanese bakery all crafted by our chefs and influenced by Japanese aesthetics, flavors, and baking styles. We will be offering freshly baked products, creating custom orders, and catering for weddings, showers, parties, and corporate meetings.

Signature products:
Shokupan – a popular soft milk bread made that is very soft and slightly sweet.
Anpan, a famous Japanese sweet roll developed in the late 1800s commonly filled with red bean paste.
Shu Kurimu – based on the French choux pastry (cream puff) filled with a variety of custard flavors: vanilla, chocolate, matcha custard, as well as seasonal flavors.

Suzu’s proudly uses ingredients from these exceptional companies:
Matcha: Marukyu Koyamaen: the premier powdered tea of Japan used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. 
Espresso: Page Roasting Company, Champaign IL
Tofu and Tofu Products: Phoenix Bean, Chicago IL
and a lot of love from: Esquire Lounge, Champaign IL

Hiragana letters for Suzu's

meet our pastry chef and bakers

& our owners and staff:

Alex Sentowski, Head Chef,
graduated at the top of his class from Kendall College at National Louis University in Chicago. From there he worked at such restaurants as Lula Café in Chicago and Bacaro in Champaign. Alex with Suzu’s has provided baked goods for Michaels’ Catering for several special events. Alex has studied the Japanese Way of Tea for 17 years and teaches lessons through Japan House. He has explored wagashi, the art of Japanese sweet making, as he is expanding his skills in Japanese cooking.

Alexandria Stone, Baker,
grew up always watching her mom cook and watching Food Network. As a young adult, she found a passion for home cooking, with a special fondness for Mexican cuisine, which she had often growing up, including plant-based meals and desserts. Always expanding her knowledge of other cultures’ foods, Alexandria discovered a love for Japanese cuisine, culture, and spirituality. She is excited to work at Suzu’s to learn and share her knowledge with others. When she isn’t cooking, her other interests include reading, writing, and the creative arts. 

Ksenya Kouzminova, Assistant Baker
is our newest member who has worked as a cake decorator and has studied cartooning and visual narrative.

Jennifer Gunji-Ballsrud, Owner

Nan Goggin, Owner

and our incredible staff:
Maxx Gogski, Manager
. . .
Caroline
Ellix
Eric
Heesun
Josh
Joyce
Kiona
Kirsten
Mary Ashlyn
Maya
Maggie
Mimi
Miranda
Nicole
Norman
Winnie

. . .

Business Affiliations
Page Roasting Company, 202 S 1st St, Champaign
Marukyu Koyamaen, Uji, Kyoto, Japan, Matcha
Phoenix Bean Company, 5438 N. Broadway, Chicago
The Republic of Tea, Larkspur, CA
Greener Goods Shop and Refillery, 110 S. Neil St, Champaign
Michaels Catering, 720 S. Neil St. #3, Champaign











drawing of Alex Sentowski
head chef / owner

Alex Sentowski