South Cobb Bakeries Enjoy Sweet, Sweet Success

By using culinary skills acquired through years of baking for their family and friends,  three local entrepreneurs are creating their own successful business ventures through personal diligence and dedication.

Three months ago, Sheriff Antiques and Bakery opened their doors in downtown Austell at 2773 Jefferson St. The bakery side of the business, however, just held their grand opening celebration on Saturday.

“I’ve always loved baking and wanted to open my own shop,”  said Sandra Sheriff, owner of the Sheriff Bakery, "and when my husband decided he wanted to open an antique shop, we thought we would just combine the two.”

Working on a limited budget, the Sheriffs searched for several months for a location with enough room for both businesses as well as one that didn’t require a lot of set-up work.

Sheriff explained, “We didn’t have much money to put into fixing up a building. The place we found here in Austell had recently been re-painted and had actually been a restaurant at one time so there was already a kitchen area and a separate room for the bakery.”

Sheriff has big plans for her bakery and will be offering 12 regular flavors and four specialty flavors of cupcakes each day, along with handmade candies, cookies and brownies. Eventually she will be offering personalized specialty and wedding cakes.

According to Sheriff, the grand opening on Saturday was a rousing success, and the bakery sold out of everything she had prepared for their first day in operation.

Sheriff Bakery’s operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For further information or to inquire about the “special of the day”, call 770-944-1441.

Another new kid on the block, Sweet Things Ice Cream and Dessert Shop, is located at 5744 Austell Powder Springs Road in Austell, and just opened for business on July 2.

Rene Hodges, owner of the shop, has been baking since she was 17 and says that over the years her customer base grew so much she decided to open her own bakery close to home.

“I spent the last year driving past this space every day seeing a for-rent sign in the window. I  had a look in one day and decided to go for it,” said Hodges.

Hodges bakes different cake varieties every day that customers can purchase by the slice as well as offering beautifully decorated cupcakes and cookies that can be enjoyed with a scoop of Blue Bell ice cream.  

Hodges has also festively decorated her shop with colorful dots on the wall and wispy veils hanging from the ceiling. The shop is closed on Sunday, when customers can rent the store for personal functions.

“It’s perfect for children’s birthday parties or for holding an afternoon tea party for little girls,” Hodges said.

Sweet Things Ice Cream and Dessert Shop is open Monday through Thursday from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. For more information or to reserve the shop for a function, call 404-287-1794.

Longtime favorite, , has been satisfying the sweet tooth of local residents for the past nine years. Originally known as Blanchard’s Bakery in operation for over 30 years, current owner Ella Jones purchased the shop in 2002.

Jones was the daughter of a Georgia sharecropper, and was the 10th of 14 children.

“I didn’t want to work in the fields, so I started baking with my mother on a wood-burning stove when I was 6 years old,” said Jones.

Jones had the opportunity to buy the bakery from its previous owner, Jim Litty, after being downsized from her former employer, Georgia Pacific.

“I used to stop in when the bakery was Blanchard’s, and I had gotten to know the owner pretty well. I came in one day after being laid off and Jim asked me if I wanted to buy the bakery. He stayed on with me for three months helping me learn the business,” said Jones.

As with any bakery, Jones has a daily selection of cupcakes and brownies to choose from but most of the sales at Ella’s come from private orders for custom design and wedding cakes.

Jones has designed cakes for such Atlanta dignitaries as Andrew Young and Maya Anjelou, and regularly volunteers and contributes to the Frank Ski Kids Foundation.

Jones also speaks to students about what it takes to be an independent business owner and entrepreneur.

In 2010, this community dedication earned Jones the “Cobb Works Outstanding Business of the Year” award.

Future plans for Jones include retiring within the next five years and passing the family business down to her grandson as well as her nieces and nephews to run.

Jones commented, “I’ve worked hard to build this legacy for my family, and it feels good having something like this to leave them for the future.”

Ella’s Bakery is open on Tuesday, 12 p.m. until 6 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. For further information or to place an order for your next function, call 770-944-9475.