The 'sweetest' bakery around

PERKINS TWP. — Eating desserts tends to make people happy. But pure joy comes across Annette Guerra's face whenever she sees others enjoying her homemade treats. And she's been grinning at an unprecedented rate lately. "That's the best feeling, when you see the smiles on the customers' faces, when they see all that you have and they bite into anything you make here," Guerra said. "And when I see all my previous customers and repeat customers coming back, that's what makes me feel really overjoyed," Guerra, a nearly two-decade-long home baker who's built up a solid customer base already, recently opened a brick-and-mortar business known as Sweet Bakes by the Lakes, 3714 Columbus Ave., Sandusky. She co-owns the business along with Jane Bruck and Mary Beth Windau, located near the intersection of Strub Road not far from a BP gas station. "I have always wanted a storefront, and my customers said it would do well. They begged me, in fact, for one — and, some years later, here I am," said Guerra, a mother and wife who lives nearby in a Perkins Township neighborhood. Self-taught, Guerra enjoys the creativity and freedoms that come with baking. She aims to take common, everyday desserts and elevate their overall eating experience for consumers. "We try to have that wow factor so that they stand out and are different than something else," said Guerra, pointing out an example, like her cronuts, a combination of a croissant and a doughnut. "My staff has the freedom to create things that, we believe, the customers would like." Sweet Bakes offers many different types of made-to-order and ready-to-go items, such as doughnuts, muffins, cutout cookies, unique cookies — namely varieties ranging from root beer float to molasses chocolate chip — macaroons, croissants, bagels, cream puffs and more. People can also place orders for birthday cakes, pumpkin rolls and breakfast sandwiches. Her business truly fills a void in the community, Guerra said. "While we do have a lot of home bakers, there are just not a lot of bakery businesses around," she said. "I wanted to open a bakery near where I lived, and Perkins Township has been super welcoming." Going forward, Guerra wants to expand the menu, offering more grab-and-go lunch items like sandwiches and wraps. Guerra encourages people to stop by Sweet Bakes. Right now, it's operational from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. People can also view a menu and order online by visiting Facebook and searching for "Sweet Bakes by the Lake." "We offer the convenience for people to come in before and after work or school so they can pick up desserts for the office or grab a birthday cake on the way home," Guerra said. Since opening a few weeks back, Guerra said she's been taken aback by the massive outpouring of support from locals. "It's amazing. I have the businesses around me sending customers over. That really shows people appreciate our product and see its value," Guerra said. "It's a dream come true. From being so inexperienced to having a full-blown storefront has just been fantastic."