When you head into a bakery, it’s expected you’ll be received with a warm sense of pies, cookies and more.
But how about a warm welcome?
Eli McKown
Staff members at the Sweetie-Licious Bakery pose over their desserts.The staff at DeWitt’s Sweetie-licious Bakery Cafe bring a unique flavor to a bakery that has national award-winning pies, and sets the standard for businesses in the area.
Sweetie-licious Bakery Cafe has been in downtown DeWitt for 16 years, serving pies, cookies and more. Prior to that, the bakery had humble beginnings, as owner Linda Hundt ran the bakery off her back porch.
However, it is the staff that makes this place stand out.
Jessica Hemple is the first to greet you upon entry. Even though she leads a busy life, she never fails to have a smile.
“It’s kind of my dream job to work at a bakery part-time,” Hemple said. “I love it. It’s like an eight-minute commute. You can’t lose.
While Hemple is first to greet you, Bethany Konieczny and Kylie Timmer are right beside her. Both are working for their current education, but this is a dream for them as well.
Konieczny began working here just before she turned 16. She has been at the bakery for three years. Recently engaged, Konieczny recently completed her associates degree in science at Lansing Community College.
But baking is a hobby for Konieczny, and she gets to live her dream in a demanding, but perfect type of environment.
“It’s a lot of attention to detail,” Konieczny said. “Linda specifically is really particular about a lot of things, but it makes a difference in how the customers see us and see the product.”
Timmer is attending cosmetology school at night to pursue her career, but this has also become another home for her.
“I started when I was either 14 or 15,” Timmer said. “It’s definitely a fun place to work, I love everybody here.
Hemole said, “I think we all love each other,” Hemple said. “We’re all friends and family and it’s a nice environment. Linda and Ellie treat us like family.”
Hundt has built that family environment in DeWitt and in Grand Rapids at ther second store. She’s been able to see young people like Timmer and Konieczny grow into full adults.“There is no more sweet, beautiful and dedicated staff than the Sweetie-licious staff,” Hundt writes on her website. “Everyone always says how hard it is to find good help these days; I am convinced it is because all the good help work at Sweetie-licious! Honestly, I could not do what I do without them, not even close.”