Specialty Bakery Makes Life Sweeter

Things got a lot sweeter Friday morning on Waseca Avenue.

The Sweet Shoppe specialty bakery opened next door to . The shop is just down the street from candy shop.

Yes, if you want sweets, Waseca Avenue in Barrington is now a place to shop.

“We baked all night and all morning,” said owner and baker Gina Perry, who has translated her love for making pastries into a retail shop.

About a half-dozen customers were buying chocolate peanut butter and red velvent and carrot cupcakes covered with frosting about mid-morning. They wandered over to the shop from across the street.

Kathy Luther, Perry's landlord at Wild Flower, said: "I came in this morning, smelled the air and gained 20 pounds."

Perry is planning a grand opening for the weekend after Easter, April 14-15. She’ll be giving out mini-cupcake samples.

Just about every day, Perry said, the shop will stock speciality cupcakes, pastries, scones, cookies, mini-cheesecakes and gluten-free cakes and cupcakes. She will bake and deliver custom cakes for all occasions.

 “I found that I have a real love for baking,” said the Bristol resident. “I love to do wedding cakes. That’s my favorite.”

Perry helped to run her husband’s business -- he’s a building contractor -- before opening the shop. She holds a culinary degree from Bristol Community College in Fall River and has two sons, ages 6 and 8.

The Sweet Shoppe will be open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm. Her phone number is 401-289-2812. Check out her website.