Home.stead bakery and cafe was officially welcomed to the neighborhood Friday morning. Two months after the bakery first opened its doors in Fields Corner, it was packed to the windows with Dorchester officials and community members for the grand opening.

“Our idea of having a local place where people feel comfortable joining us, and just meet and greet people and really get to know each other, has materialized,” said Jack Wu, who opened and operates home.stead with partners Elisa and Vivian Girard. The cafe is the product of significant community feedback and support, Wu said.

Mayor Martin Walsh said “this is exactly what we want to see here.” He recalled his 17 years as a state representative for the area, including extended discussions with civic groups about bringing back local businesses and rejuvenating the village.

“To have such a great business in this neighborhood, it just adds to the beauty of this neighborhood, to the diversity because of this neighborhood,” Walsh said.

“It’s an honor to be back here as the mayor, and with other elected officials, because we talk a lot about how fields corner is the gateway to Dorchester Avenue,” he said. “It’s kind of the hub and it's important to us that we look at revitalization of Dorchester Avenue and keep businesses coming back here.”

State Rep. Evandro Carvalho, who said he contributed to the crowdfunding of the cafe, presented a certificate on behalf of the state delegation with State Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry and State Rep. Dan Hunt.

Also in attendance were city councillors Annissa Essaibi George, Frank Baker, and Andrea Campbell; Inspectional Services Department Commissioner William Christopher; Nam Pham, assistant secretary for business development, and his wife Mary Truong, head of the Massachusetts Office for Refugees & Immigrants; along with a host of other Dorchester staples and locals.