I dreamed of having a bakery someday when I was a little girl growing up in Independence, KS and winning purple ribbons in 4H #brag. After opening a photography studio at 17 and then going to college for Graphic Design after high school I moved to Tulsa with my then but eventual ex-husband. But I still had a plan of opening a bakery someday.
I decided to attend culinary school after our divorce to work towards my goal of opening a bakery at Oklahoma State University IT. I was a little lost in life honestly and had no idea what was next but I met some amazing girls and had great chefs who encouraged me to stay in culinary school so I could figure out who I was again. During this time I was shooting a wedding of a 4H friend back in Indy and met the only single groomsmen—who was a big flirt btw. He lived in Troy, MO.
I ended up following him back to his hometown and he encouraged me to start working towards my bakery dream. So, Flour Dust Delights was created in 2012-ish. Justin took cupcakes to work at GM once a week and sold them one at a time! He became known as Cupcake Guy and started selling out fast. We decided to start selling at the farmers market in Troy while I was on maternity leave. We took baby Everitt and set up a tent, then we grew into a small trailer. It was a lot of leg work in the beginning to make sure we were doing things legally and ethically right. Justin called local and state offices for me and helped me get it all going. He’s the best.
In and around 2014 I had my first big order for a wedding and I baked out of a tiny kitchen in my house. I took that money from the Hakenwerth’s wedding and bought a food truck! (I’ve also been privileged to make a birthday cake, baby shower cake and christening cake for them in the following years!)
I ran the house bakery on the side of working as a graphic designer full time for 4-5 years. I took the scary leap into growing the bakery full time and quitting my steady job after I had Emersen 5 years ago. We bought a new house that had a separate kitchen in it and a shop for his business On My Own Time Lawn Care. We eventually gutted the extra kitchen and made it into a health inspected commercial kitchen. I sold through some local shops in town for a bit and I took custom orders every weekend. While raising two little kids and attempting to support Justin’s business goals.
I had been looking for a storefront in town over the last several years but nothing ever came available that I could afford while selling $2 cupcakes. One of my customers mentioned that they had a small commercial space for lease if I wanted to see it. It took a lot of thought and prayer and considering to decide to open a retail bakery finally. (Decisions are hard, ya’ll.) They were generous on the rent price and I knew I could make it work so we took the plunge and opened at 802 West College in 2019!
I was floored by the amount of customers we had at opening day and again at the grand opening a few weeks later. I have some of the best repeat customers! Jessica Zumwalt and Jen Creason were some of my first in the beginning and they still come by when they can 8 years later. Steve with Finley Shoes is by every morning and I’ll miss our chats. I know I have a lot of consistent customers and I appreciate you for that—even if I can’t remember your names.
I’ve learned so much running a business full time. I’ve been happy and overcome with joy at times. I’ve been stressed and cried at times. I’ve been irritated and mad at times (those damn ridiculous reviews and the random rude comments)…which also leads to crying in my case. I’ve had some amazing experiences and some really crappy ones too. I’ve been humbled and even felt boastful. The bakery has brought some great people into my life from unpaid helping hands to employees to customers to new friends. But, the bakery has also contributed to the growing pain in my body and my soul at times.
My rent has gone up a lot with a new landlord, the rising costs of supplies and ingredients has affected our margins, and having enough employees (so I can still have a home life) that I can afford to pay has been a struggle over the last several months. Combine this with the recession when you’re a business that is a ‘want’ not a ‘need’ and it’s not worth keeping the retail side open any more at the expense of my well being.
A lot of time and thought and even some crying went into this decision. I don’t make decisions easily and I over analyze everything. I’ve thought about “what will people say”, “am I just in a funk and I’ll snap out of it”, “will I regret closing”, “will people complain or be sad”, “will they judge and say mean things”, “they’re relying on me for treats and I’m letting them down”…
Jamie put it best when she said this isn’t filling my cup anymore. In the end I have to take care of me and my family. They’ve supported me and they are who will still be here for years to come, loving me. Ya’ll, will just leave when you get diabetes.
I like to be transparent with everyone—so there it is.
Rents up $6000 a year, sales are down some, eggs went from .09 to .25 (don’t even get me started on butter)…and I’m tired. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. Just Done.
I’m going to take a few weeks off to just be. Then I’ll start substitute teaching some, help Justin with his business, and maybe finally get my house clean. We have the beginnings of another business started here if you’d like to give it a follow Posted. I want to help other business owners grow their business and help them with their social media and branding. I also sell makeup sometimes here https://www.facebook.com/groups/3686418464706888/?ref=share&mibextid=S66gvF
However, I can’t just walk away completely from baking and I like you guys, most of you anyway. So, I’m working on figuring out the next step—this might mean subscription boxes and/or a new dessert/food truck (street tacos sound amazing right now) and custom orders out of the extra kitchen in our house where the rent is fo’ free.
So in short (ha), stick around on this page, know that I appreciate any and all support, and that I’ve done what I set out to do some 25+ years ago. I did it. I had a retail bakery. It was successful. It made me happy and made others happy, too. I take comfort knowing my little bakery will be missed.
Sweet regards,
Jammi
