by Kyle Garvey
As part of Simply Living’s ongoing series on the benefits of buying goods and services from locally owned businesses, I wanted to showcase a few of Columbus’s independent bakeries. In fact, a baker’s dozen! During pandemic tension especially, the warmth, satisfaction, and mouth-watering yumminess of bakery-cooked delights can’t be overstated.
*Pattycake Bakery (https://pattycakeveganbakery.com/): A quaint place with vegan offerings, Pattycake has so many cookies, cakes, and sweets. At 3009 N High St, Pattycake crafts all their treats by hand and is committed to treating the earth just as kindly as their customers: recycled and biodegradable packaging, from local farms to bike deliveries, and a premier worker-owned co-operative.
*Short North Piece of Cake (https://shortnorthpieceofcake.com/): With a punny name, they for sure make cakes, and they make cakes quite easily — but they make wonderful works of art too, as you can tell by their Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/shortnorthcake With a location at 772 N High St, Short North Piece of Cake’s an easygoing place offering made-to-order/ready-made pastries.
*Sadie Baby Sweets (https://sadiebabysweets.com/): Founded by Rachel Altiere in May 2014, Sadie Baby is to this day a charming sweets shop specializing in beautifully crafted custom-made sweets, with attention to detail, superior service, and fine catering. At 1171 W. Third Avenue, Sadie Baby is really open for business!
*The Suisse Shop Bakery (http://www.thesuisseshop.com/): Cakes, pastries, cookies — Suisse Shop offers so many delectable and mouth-watering treats. Located in Polaris, at 2119 Polaris Pkwy, they’ve been serving Columbus and central Ohio since 1983 and nowadays have more than 300 European-inspired recipes as a foundation; they were voted the “Best Wedding Cake Bakery 2020” in Central Ohio and placed in the top 2% of the country.
*Pistacia Vera Pastry Kitchen (https://www.pistaciavera.com/): Known for colorful macarons, this quaint café makes their desserts as pretty as pictures. You could swing by their German Village location at 541 S. 3rd Street for carry out, curbside pickup, or delivery; or enjoy this Columbus staple’s quaint sidewalk seating. Pistacia Vera’s always there to help you enjoy some café treats and other light fare.
*Dough Mama Bakery and Café (www.dough-mama.com/order): Besides the catchy name and eye-popping treats, Dough Mama’s a great business all around. Their two Columbus spots, 730 S High St and 3335 N High St, are open for pick-up, delivery, and outdoor seating. Sweet and savory pies (at a homey counter if you’re eating in), hot coffee, wonderful breakfast — what’s not to love?
*Kitties Cakes (https://kittiescakes.com/): Offering some wonderful cinnamon rolls and warm, welcoming coziness, Kitties Cakes is a Columbus institution. Enjoy a treat or two at their bakery in German Village (495 S 3rd St) and their café in Bexley (2424 E Main St). Kitties is proud to offer new twists on family favorites, all in a contemporary counter-serve featuring classic & specialty baked goods.
Center Street Market’s Hilliard location (5354 Center St) brings many vendors to their Old Hilliard neighborhood, including The Cheesecake Girl and Bakes By Lo:
*The Cheesecake Girl (www.thecheesecakegirl.com): Making all their treats from scratch — cookie sandwiches, cheesecake dips, cheesecakes, and catering — Cheesecake Girl is a great stop.
*Bakes By Lo (www.bakesbylo.com): Providing custom-decorated sugar cookies, each individually cut, baked, and decorated, Bakes By Lo is perfect for any and every occasion.
*Fox in the Snow Cafe (https://www.foxinthesnow.com/): With mouth-watering treats galore, including a great cinnamon roll, as well as one of the most beautiful, visually-pleasing Instagram accounts in town, Fox in the Snow really delivers. https://www.instagram.com/foxinthesnowcafe/ And with three locations — in Italian Village (1031 N 4th St), German Village (210 Thurman Ave), and New Albany (160 W Main St) — there might be one nearer than you think.
*Bake Me Happy (https://bakemehappyglutenfree.square.site/): From zebra cakes to donut muffins, Bake Me Happy has many gluten-free pastries.You can order treats in advance or online. Bake Me Happy truly specializes in scrumptious baked goods you’ll love. They want to deliver happiness to all customers, truly, from their cheery 106 E Moler St locale.
*Yummy Bakery (http://www.yummy-bakery.com/): Really delivering on its name, Yummy Bakery promises to elevate any occasion. Located in Trader Joe’s in Dublin, Yummy’s a family-owned place crafting cakes, pastries, and customized desserts. They make cakes, pastries & customized desserts that’ll exceed all expectations.
*Fate Cakes (https://www.fate-cakes.com/shop/): Staffed by bakers with a passion for photography, Fate Cakes is a cool place. All the photos on their site are taken directly by staff, and they always strive to give customers a first-hand look into their bakery. At 1360 Cherry Bottom Road in Gahanna, Fate is excited to deliver a wonderful local experience all around.
So shift your shopping: a 10% shift from chain to local keeps $312 million in Franklin County – enough to create 5000 new jobs! Be a conscious consumer. When more of our dollars circulate locally, communities create more wealth and become more resilient and sustainable.