‘My baking heaven.’ Caterer opens her first restaurant in historic Columbus building
A longtime baker in Columbus has opened her first brick-and-mortar restaurant.
Kate Williams, owner of the Painted Gypsy catering company, has been a popular provider of sweet treats in Columbus since 2017. She got her start serving baked goods at the Uptown Columbus Market Days.
“Within the first couple months I was there, a couple came in and bought some cookie bars from me,” Williams told the Ledger-Enquirer. “I used to have a big banner in my tent that said private chef, private catering and those type of services.”
The couple was Gen. Gary M. Brito, then the commanding general at Fort Benning, and his wife, Michelle Brito. She invited Williams to cater a lunch hosting military officers’ spouses. Williams said her business took off from there.
“I did the right lunch with the right person at the right time,” she said. “For the last eight years, because of that, I have met more and more people.”
Now, Williams is opening her first restaurant: 405 Café and Bakery, inside The Goetchius House, 405 Broadway. The soft opening was Nov. 13. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be Nov. 15 at 9 a.m.
“I’ve taken over their downstairs and turned it into my baking heaven,” Williams said.
To Williams, the restaurant is the “natural” next step in her culinary journey.
“For years, people have been asking, ‘Are you gonna ever open a store?’ And I was like, ‘It's got to be the right place,’” Williams said. “I wanted it to feel like, if I invited you into my home, and I didn't want to just end up in some cookie-cutter lease building with no character, I wanted there to be a deeper and a much older story than just the eight years of the Painted Gypsy. I think I found that with The Geotchius House. It already feels like a home.”
405 Cafe and Bakery is open Thursdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
About The Goetchius House
The Goetchius House is one of Columbus’ oldest buildings, dating back to 1839. The structure, recognized for its Greek Revival architecture, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Over the years, the building has served a variety of purposes, including private residence, restaurant and event space.. It was closed for a dozen years until Matthew Lapides and Renata Martoni bought the property for $436,000 in 2021..
Renovations and repairs turned the property into a place for meals, music and new memories from a variety of options: upscale dining, a fast-casual menu, artisanal pizza, espresso bar and old-fashioned homemade ice cream. Now, it’s also the home of 405 Café and Bakery, adding another chapter to the building’s story in the heart of the city.
“This house has so much history in Columbus,” Williams said. “I think me being here and us working together, I hope to develop a real sense of community down here.”
This story was originally published November 14, 2025 at 6:44 AM.