Meet Haylee Shaddock of Sweet Magnolia Bakery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Haylee Shaddock.

Haylee, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area. Growing up, I loved to help both of my grandmothers in the kitchen, especially with baking projects. My passion for baking increased when I took Home Economics in middle school, and as a student in the Jacobson Culinary Arts Academy at Tarpon Springs High School. It was there that I began dreaming of opening my own bakery.

I interned for a renowned pastry chef, Michael Ostrander, and volunteered for the Ryan Wells Foundation at every opportunity. Upon graduation, I was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. As a student at CIA, I completed a four-month externship at the Swan and Dolphin resorts in Orlando.

I went on to receive an Associates Degree in Baking and Pastries, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from CIA. After graduating, I returned to the Bay area, and went back to work for Chef Ostrander at the St. Pete Bakery, where I was honing on my skills, and preparing to open here on business. Last November I took over a location in Westchase, Tampa.

We opened the shop this past April. A week later I bought out the Michael Ostrander’s St.Pete Baker, and we opened in June. Since opening the stores, it has been a learning experience but its been a lot of fun! I love my staff; I don’t know how I got so lucky with them!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It most definitely has not been a smooth road. We hit a bump in the road almost every week it feels like. From power surges and electrical problems to the bakery equipment breaking, and losing employees. The latest obstacle is changing our name. We got a letter saying we need to change our name because our name is hurting another bakeries image. So in Januar, our new name will be Southern Bay Bakery!

Please tell us about Sweet Magnolia Bakery.
We use quality ingredients that get weighed out on a scale before baking. Nothing comes in premade from a bag or bucket. We do this to ensure that our pastries have the utmost quality, and it also makes our pastries taste so much better. I guess you can say we like to bake the old fashion way.

We like to provide our customers with pastries they grew up with but can’t find any more or with pastries they saw while traveling but can’t find anywhere.We do everything from breakfast pastries like cinnamon bun’s, danish’s, and muffins, to custom cake’s, cupcake’s, and other yummy desserts. Some of our baked goods are even gluten-free.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Baking with my grandmas in their kitchens when I was a kid. It was never anything too extravagant but it was so much fun! Whether it was making pudding in a cloud, cinnamon rolls, my grandpa’s favorite coconut cake, or Christmas cookies, it always brought us closer together as a family!

Contact Info:

• Address: 10112 Montague St, Tampa, FL 33626 (Westchase)
  1961 4th St N, St.Pete, FL 33701 (St.Petersburg)
• Phone: 813-328-8010
• Email: westchasesweetmagnoliabakery@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SweetMagnoliaBakeryWestchase/

Image Credit:
Kallisto Art

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