Ribbon Cutting Celebration for the Grand Sweet Shop
The Wells County Chamber of Commerce staff, Ambassadors and Board Members welcomed owner Melissa Burke of Grand Sweet Shop located at 953 N Main Street in Bluffton with a ribbon cutting on September 30.
Burke recently purchased a bakery business, recipes, and Robin’s Country Fair Food Truck from Robin Lipp, who owned The Grand Sweet Shop bakery. Burke wanted to own her own business and when the building where the former Donut Haus was housed came up for sale, the vision became a reality.
“I have been a customer of Robin’s over the years and she was at a point she wanted to pass the business on to someone else, but still wanted to work part-time,” stated Melissa. “Robin is known for her butter-cream frosting and we both wanted her recipes to be saved and savored; along with her solid customer base. Robin and her husband, Kevin, have been in the planning process from the very beginning.”
On August 9, 2019 Scott and Melissa Burke purchased the building and started transforming, renovating, and cleaning top to bottom, inside and outside the structure.
“We painted the inside and outside, repaired the electrical and plumbing, installed all new kitchen equipment, cleaned out the venting system, degreased the entire building, and did an incredible amount of deep cleaning,” explained Melissa.
Burke said her goal is to make Grand Sweet Shop “feel like home and give customers a sense of peace when they come here to visit or stop in”. The hours will be Monday through Saturday from 6am to 4pm.
Melissa’s Grand Sweet Shop will be offering cakes for any event, cupcakes, cookies cake pops, sweet bars, pies, muffin loaves, and much more. “Customers can mix and match and we will take specialty orders as well; people can order by calling or online at www.grandsweetshop.com,” said Melissa.
“We are working on donuts, but the process needs to be re-fined. However, we will offer simple lunch options such as a soup of the day and a variety of sandwiches and coffee. Eventually we will be offering take and bake dinners for customers as well,” explained Melissa.
Burke stated that they would like to run the food truck once a month in the summer and weather permitting during the fall and winter months. The food truck will offer Monte Crisco sandwiches, hand-dipped tenderloins, and battered chicken sandwiches; just to name a few.
Burke will also have a small retail area for merchandise with a portion of profits going to not-for-profit organizations, specifically for cancer. “We will have items such as bracelets, hats, necklaces, earrings, and items that can monogramed.”
“I am looking forward to working with the community and growing our menu and adding items as we go along. So far, this has been an amazing experience and appreciate everyone who has helped to get our doors open,” concluded Melissa.
Pictured in photo:
Erin Prible, Wells County Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director
Trent Bucher, Honegger, Ringger & Co, Chamber Board Member
Jessica Beste, American Mortgage, Chamber Ambassador
Rick Johnloz, Halderman Farm Management, Chamber Board Member
Alissa Rice, Grand Sweet Shop
Kody Kumfer, First Bank of Berne, Ossian Revitalization
Melissa Burke, Grand Sweet Shop
Kevin Pritchard, RUOFF Home Mortgage, Chamber Ambassador
Earlene Simpson, Grand Sweet Shop
Sid Schwartz, First Merchants Bank, Chamber Ambassador
Alyssa Sponseller, Archbold & Lewis Insurance, Chamber Ambassador
Nick Huffman, Steffen Group, Chamber Ambassador
Heather Morgan, National Oil, Chamber Ambassador
Jen Kinyo, Ossian Health Communities, Chamber Ambassador
Jim Brewer, Ossian State Bank, Chamber Board President