By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM -- The new bakery catering to customers wanting gluten-free products will open Monday at 51 Market St.

The bakery, called 3 Bears Gluten Free Bakery, is owned by Durand and Faye Ori. They also own and operate Cubby T. Clown and Company, and IYQ Balloon Décor party supplies and entertainment.

They are offering a variety of cakes, cookies, cupcakes, brownies, bread and cornbread, among other baked products.

He and Ori will also have gluten-free sandwiches and pizza, and plan on a retail section with things such as mixes for soups, gravies and stuffing.

Durand says they will open with nine full- and part-time employees

The idea is to bring quality baked goods to people who can’t have regular cakes, cookies and bread because of a disease that can cause discomfort at least and can bring on some more serious conditions.

Durand said the inspiration to open the shop came from a young attendee at one of his clown shows who couldn’t eat regular snacks because of her celiac disease.

The disease is a reaction in some people to proteins called gluten in wheat and other grains that causes irritation of the small intestines and can interfere with the body’s absorption of nutrients, which in turn can lead to a number of other problems.

Estimates of the number of Americans with celiac disease vary widely, but online sources (National Institutes of Health, University of Chicago) seem to have settled on a figure of one in 133 people. Many people with the disease do not have symptoms, according to the sources.

Knowledge of the condition has increased in recent years, and business has responded, to a degree.

There are gluten-free sections in supermarkets, but the selection is usually quite limited, Durand said.

“There are some retail items,” he said, “but frozen bread is still frozen bread. I want products that other retailers don’t have.”

Durand said people have been calling to find out about the shop since he announced last summer.

The hours of operation will be 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday and Saturday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.