Candela Bakehouse began with a spark.

In 2022, while working in fine dining at the award-winning Flagstaff House in Boulder, Colorado, Will Dolan met Magi Junco, a Peruvian pastry chef whose warmth and energy were impossible to miss. What began as a shared passion for food quickly grew into something more. Together, they discovered not only a partnership in life, but a shared vision.

“Candela,” meaning light, is at the heart of that vision.

It reflects the spirit Magi and Will bring into every kitchen and represents the feeling they hope to create for every customer: warmth, comfort, and a sense of joy in every bite.

Magi’s journey began in Lima, Peru, where she trained in classical pastry at Le Cordon Bleu. She went on to refine her craft at the three-Michelin-starred Dani García Restaurante in Marbella, Spain, as Pastry Chef at Uchi Denver and at one of Denver’s most beloved bakeries, GetRights. From an early age, she dreamed of opening a bakery of her own—a place where her creativity and passion could shine.

Will, a graduate of the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, built his career alongside Magi in some of the Denver area’s most respected kitchens, most recently as Savory Sous Chef at GetRights.

In the spring of 2026, they brought their shared dream to life in Will’s hometown of Coralville, Iowa, where Candela Bakehouse was born.

Together, Magi and Will bring years of experience and a deep love for their craft to the Iowa City area. At Candela, every pastry is thoughtfully made—globally inspired, locally rooted, and infused with the light that started it all.