Baking business rises up in Milan

MILAN — Richard Shafer's passion for baking stems from many cherished childhood interactions with his beloved late grandmother, Nellie. "She always had peanut butter cookies in the jar, waiting for me when I got to her home. There were also her butterscotch pies," Richard said. "Every time I would come over, she made me feel happy, warm and welcoming." Fast-forward to the present, and Shafer hopes to recreate a similar cozy aura and inviting atmosphere whenever people step foot inside his new business. Along with his wife, Amy, he recently debuted Baker on the Square in their hometown of Milan. "It's a small-town bakery where everyone will be greeted," said Richard, a 1986 Edison High School graduate. Amy, a Huron Schools special education secretary, is a 1988 Norwalk High School graduate. "When people come here, I want them to love it inside," said Richard, who gave up his career in environmental health and safety to fulfill his lifelong dreams of running a bakery. "I want it to have great service and great food. All of our customers will be treated like we have known them forever." Richard and Amy spent much of the past two years rehabilitating the Front Street building, circa 1900, on Milan Village Square's north side. Among the historic structure's prior tenants: a dry goods store, known as J.C. Door; a post office; and, most recently, the flower shop Petals on the Square and Salvage Diva. As an Easter egg, Richard's father — the elder Richard, or Dick, a well-known photographer in the Milan area — operated the village's Ice Cream Emporium from there as well. "The work we did in here was definitely a labor of love," Richard said. "We took on a complete top-to-bottom renovation. We increased the height of the ceilings. We put tin on the ceilings. We redid the floorings. We built all of the counters and redid the walls. The kitchen is completely remade." Just about every menu item sold at Baker on the Square is made in-house. And each dessert comes with a fully fresh guarantee. Some of the more popular items served include cheesecakes, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, sweet rolls, danishes, doughnuts, breads and bagels. "We have gotten great response and great support from the community so far," Richard said. "Everybody has been excited about our opening, and, since we have, they have been buying what we have been putting out. It's amazing. It shows there was a real need for this area to have a true independently owned bakery." People can visit Baker on the Square on Mondays through Saturdays. They can check out the store's online presence for hours and a full menu.