Baked getting twice as nice in Rehoboth Beach
Story Location:
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States
About to enter her third season as a Dewey business owner, Baked’s Pam Minhas decided it was time to open a second location in Rehoboth.
“It just makes sense,” she said. “If you get baked in Dewey, then you can get twice baked in Rehoboth.”
Minhas opened Baked in Dewey two years ago after a bout with breast cancer motivated her to follow her dream and open a bake shop. Two busy years later, she said now is the time to expand, and when she found out Starbucks on Route 1 was moving, she said it was meant to be.
“I went in on an off-season Wednesday before it closed, and it was packed,” she said, adding that she immediately went to her realtor because the location is a winner.
It has lots of parking and other excellent businesses in the development, Minhas said.
The new location, named Twice Baked, will be open year-round, said Minhas, who is expecting to have 15 to 20 year-round employees. She said her employees will be able to work at both locations, and when the Dewey location closes for the season, she said they can all work in Rehoboth.
“It’s life-changing,” she said.
Minhas said she’s expecting to get the keys of the new location mid-April and is hoping the turnaround doesn’t take too long. In addition to the prime location, she said, one of the good things about the new spot is there will be little renovation work needed.
There will be some new equipment installed and a little work to give it that Baked feel instead of Starbucks, but other than that, it shouldn’t take a tremendous amount of work, Minhas said.
Twice Baked will feature the handmade pastries, baked goods and sandwiches Baked has become known for, said Minhas. The lease for the new location allows for a liquor license, but she said she’s going to focus on her baked goods and other specialties for the 2017 season.
“We’ll work on the liquor license in the fall,” she said.
Minhas said she had planned to take a vacation over the past winter, but those plans were put on hold after she decided to open the second location. Fortunately for her, daily trips to the beach provide a measure of calmness before she starts kneading and rolling dough.
“I make a point of going down to the beach every day, even if it’s at 2 a.m. before I’m heading into work,” she said. “You don’t move to the beach if you don’t want to visit the ocean.”
Minhas said it’s hard to believe how much has changed and how much she’s learned about the business in the two years since she opened her first location. She said when she first started, it was hard to find good help because she didn’t have a reputation, and hiring summer staff for a seasonal business can be hard. But, she stuck it out, and things have turned out OK.
“You just have to be prepared to not sleep or eat,” she said when asked what she would tell herself from two years ago. “If you don’t like to work, this isn’t a business to get into. You have to be absolutely dedicated to your vision. It’s all about the food and the quality, and I’m all about making beautiful food.”
For more information on Baked and Twice Baked call 302-212-5202 or go to bakedindewey.com.
