Last Call Baking sold to June Coffee

The cat is out of the bag—James Beard Award finalist and Birmingham-based pastry chef Channah Willis has sold Last Call Baking to June Coffee’s Jimmy Truong.

According to a recent report from the Birmingham Business Journal, Willis has accepted a role as executive chef of an award-winning pastry restaurant in New York City.

Passing the torch after 3 years

Over the course of three years, Willis quickly rose to success garnering lines out the door and a slew of out-of-town travelers trekking to try their unique pastries. In 2024, they were named a James Beard Award finalist in the “Emerging Chef” category.

To announce the passing of the torch, Willis took to the bakery’s Instagram:

“After three amazing years of running Last Call Baking Co., I have some bittersweet news to share: I’m officially passing the torch to a dear friend and fellow local coffee king, Jimmy Truong.

This little business has been such a huge part of my life. Since 2020, Last Call became something I could never have imagined for myself – even now it is still truly hard to comprehend. With that said, making the decision to sell wasn’t easy. But the reason behind it is an exciting one that I am excited to share as the time comes.

Knowing that Last Call will stay in the hands of someone I trust and admire made this transition feel right. Jimmy shares the same love for this community and vision for the business, and I truly believe amazing things are ahead. He has been with me since day one and I can’t imagine a better person to take the lead.

To everyone who’s supported me over the years—thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your encouragement, kindness, and loyalty has meant more than I can put into words. 

To my staff members (Hayes, Jonathan, Lauren Gavin, Laurel, Jesse, Phoebe, Jahnah) and best friend Frankie Deter; my family, my best friends, and my partner; and all the local chefs and business owners that held us up—thank you. I would not be where I am today without the incredible support from everyone in my life.

Thank you, Birmingham.

PS. I will still be around LCBC through November so come on down, get some treats and let’s close a chapter together.”

Channah Willis, Founder, Last Call Baking Company

Teaming up with June Coffee

If you’ve ever been to Last Call, you probably also stopped in next door to pair your pastry with a June Coffee.

Opened by Jimmy Truong in 2022, June has quickly become a local favorite coffee shop. You can also find June coffee at places like House Eleven and the Daily Edition.

According to Willis, Truong “shares the same love for this community and vision for the business,” making it a bittersweet but smooth transition. For die-hard lovers of Last Call, have no fear—Truong doesn’t plan on changing anything: same employees, same great pastries.

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