The aroma of fresh-baked bread wafted over Talbot Street as Sweetie Bakery, St. Michaels’ newest business, opened today. This is the second new business opened on Talbot Street this year by Jack and Dolores Antwerpen, after their Big Pickle opened in June.
Well known as the founder of Antwerpen Motors in Baltimore, Jack has now stepped into the restaurant industry. Dolores has had a full career in real estate, but watching them as they prep to open Sweetie, they seem like restaurant professionals.
With a bright pink-black-white décor, and retro-style stools set around white chunky countertops, Sweetie Bakery is looking awfully sweet itself. The hum on a recent afternoon was brisk, as workers hung large blackboards on the walls, young women waited in line with resumes, and staffers opened boxes and made schedules.
Manager and pastry chef Ben McCormick grins when he describes Sweetie’s offerings – “artisanal breads, bagels, made-to-order donuts, cookies, pies, you name it,” he says. “This is going to be a place where people gather. We’ll have fresh soft-serve custard, we’ll make our own chocolates and we even have a walk-up window on the side.”
Previously the executive pastry chef at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., McCormick came to Talbot County to help open Restaurant Local in Easton six years ago. He’s been working with the Antwerpens for several months to prepare for Sweetie Bakery. Elise Broz, pastry chef from the Inn at Perry Cabin, joined in three weeks ago and is excited to bring fresh new pastry and breads to St. Michaels. Her eyes twinkle as she talks about Sweetie’s future.
On Thursday evening, the Antwerpens met up with old friends from Baltimore at the Big Pickle, and then they all walked over to Sweetie Bakery, where things were still humming. The ovens were filled with fresh carrot cakes, and the staff was energetic and ready. Ben broke out some asiago ciabatta, rye and olive breads, and passed a plate around. The guests tasted and cheered – fresh and delicious, these breads are going to rock this little town.
Dolores claims that they didn’t set out to revitalize or change anything. They bought a house nearby a few years ago, and when they saw the real estate for sale on Talbot Street, they decided to try something new – a deli. They thought St. Michaels needed one. And then, when the place across the street was for sale, they decided a bakery should be next.
Looking to create places for people to hang out, they are offering blue plate specials, jazz on Friday nights, a band on Saturday nights, trivia and karaoke too, at the Big Pickle. And it’s clear from the moment you walk into Sweetie Bakery that this place will stand on its own.
Dolores says that she came up with the name “Big Pickle” because that’s her pet name for Jack, and he calls her “Sweetie.” The friends from Baltimore said – “hey, we’ve known Jack and Dolores for more than 20 years. They’re having so much fun here.” And they are. Anybody can tell that they’re having a lot of fun.
Stan Stallsmith of the Candleberry Shoppe, next door neighbor to Sweetie Bakery, is enthusiastic about this new venture. “They’ve got the two best pastry chefs in the region, and they’re going to be great neighbors. It’s nice to support their effort to bring people to this middle section of town” he said. He pointed up to the vent at the top of Sweetie’s storefront and chuckled – “all of the ovens will vent right through the front, so you’re going to smell the bakery the minute you walk onto this street. We can’t wait!”
Sweetie Bakery’s lights closed late on Thursday. And they’re ready for a big start next week. Dolores Antwerpen says a friend told her “a good bakery is the heart and soul of a town”.
She and Jack are expecting to prove that true, starting on Monday, with Sweetie, St. Michaels’ new bakery.[slideshow id=44]
amanda mccormick says
Because of the poor treatment by Jack and Dolores Antwerpen chef Ben has left Sweetie Bakery.