There’s one surefire way to blow any diet you might ever be on…walk into the Bakery Off Augusta on Sevier Street. As your nose wrinkles in ecstasy, your eyes will feast on the many colorful and unique sweet treats displayed under glass in the tiny, warm and welcoming bakery.
Everything’s on display, from colorful cookies and cupcakes to custom cakes, like the popular little cake that looks like a Coach purse – one that’s guaranteed to make you the most appreciated guest at any girlfriend’s birthday party.
It’s a bakery of old Europe, and that’s by design because owner/operator Connie Jud is a Swiss national who is bringing traditional Swiss and European treats to Greenville. “I grew up in my parents’ bakery in Switzerland, I know the business. I apprenticed with my parents,” says Jud. She came to Greenville by “happy accident,” backpacking around the U.S. and landing in the Upstate.
Jud has worked at other area bakeries and never imagined she’d be the proud – and now very successful – owner of her own bakery. “I never had a business plan, I never had a future plan, my friends just kept saying; ‘why don’t you open your own business?’” And so she did. “I said to myself, ‘you know what, I’m going to just do it’ and if I fail, at least I tried.”
Jud did not fail, she is thriving, and “I have to say it’s happened because of my good support system and friends,” she says humbly.
Jud has hired Tom Hohman, whose specialty is cake design and decorating, and Debbie McKenzie, whose specialty is hospitality. She offers you coffee or warm cocoa as soon as you walk in the door.
Ironically, Jud herself does not eat a lot of sweets. In fact, she likes her own baked goods more natural – more fruit, less sugar and icing.
“Our saying is, Connie bakes it and makes it delicious, I make it beautiful, and Debbie tastes it,” says Hohman.
Even this time of year, the Bakery Off Augusta is producing at least three wedding cakes every weekend and pleasing the many repeat customers who come in off the street, looking for something sweetly unique to serve at a book club luncheon, soccer team celebration or classroom party.
“My four sisters just came to visit me from Switzerland,” says Jud. “They stayed here and wanted to check out how I had done with the family business. They loved it here! They said to me, ‘Man, everyone’s is so friendly here.’” And well fed.
The Bakery Off Augusta 11 Sevier St. 864.232.8580