SWEET DREAMS
Karen Dennis, 74, opens bakery for her ‘second act’
MILLERSPORT - At age 74, Karen Dennis has fulfilled her life’s dream. h The former Victoria’s Secret pastry chef always wanted to open her own bakery. Her dream came true on June 8 when she opened Karen’s Bakery and Custom Cakes at 12474 Lancaster St. h “I’ve wanted a bakery for 40 years,” Dennis said. “I’ve always wanted a bakery. The first time I took a cake decorating course back in the early ’70s, I was just drawn to it. I was just absolutely drawn to it and I’ve always wanted a bakery.”
From 1982 to 1988 and from 1995 to 1999 she worked as a cake designer for Kroger. Then from 2007 to 2009 Dennis worked at Victoria’s Secret’s headquarters on Broad Street in Pataskala, where she said supermodels like Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell would sometimes visit.
After retiring from Victoria’s Secret, Dennis worked at a local restaurant for about 12 years. After her husband died two years ago, Dennis didn’t want to stay at the restaurant any longer.
“My dream has always been the bakery,” she said. “So my lovely neighbors said, ‘You need to start that bakery, Karen.’ And I did. I guess you could say this is my second act.”
Dennis specializes in all different types of desserts including various pies, cakes, cheesecakes and cookies.
“I do your standard cookies and I do some little different ones,” she said. “Maybe a little international cookie or some Christmas cookies that you don’t normally see this time of the year. I have my standard things, but I like to be creative and just make what I want. I go a lot on what my customers like and I try to give them that product.”
Dennis said her favorite bakery treat is probably a sugar cookie.
She said business has gone well so far.
“Oh, my goodness, it’s beyond my expectations,” Dennis said. “One neighbor said, ‘I think you’re going to be busier than you expected, Karen.’ He was right. Absolutely right. Millersport has supported me completely. I’m just really happy that the community is supporting me.”
She said the prospect of starting a
business made her a little nervous at first, but the dream of finally owning her own bakery overshadowed the nerves.
The bakery is closed on Sunday and Monday, but Dennis and her one employee bake on Monday. Therefore, Dennis works six days a week at her new business.
For those her age or even youngerlooking to start a new career, she said to go for it.
“And especially as a senior,” Dennis said. “Go do something that you’ve dreamed of your whole life. Don’t be afraid. Just go and do what you’ve always dreamed of.”
Karen’s Bakery and Custom Cakes is opened from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. She will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday until Sept. 5. jbarron@gannett.com 740-304-9296
Twitter: @Jeffdbarron