At Work… Sweet Lew's Bakery Shoppe
Nov. 23, 2007
How would you describe your business?
"We are a Kosher retail bakery that bakes all types of bread - rye, whole wheat, and challah, and cakes, muffins, buns, Danish, donuts and cookies of all kinds. During the Jewish holidays, we have a full line of holiday baked goods. Most of our baked goods are parve. Although I opened the bakery here in Plainfield last year, my family starting with my grandfather, has been in the baking business for over 50 years. We had bakeries in North Arlington, Kenilworth, Aberdeen. Everything is homemade, baked on premises, no artificial flavors no bag mixes."
What makes your business special?
"We're not ShopRite, A&P, B.J.'s or Costco. Everything is homemade, made on premises. There are no bag mixes, no artificial flavors, everything is made from scratch. We are also kosher under Kashrut supervision from Rabbi Isaiah Hertzberg of Teaneck."
What goals do you have for the business?
"We hope to build up the business and be here for a long time. It's hard. Larry's closed after Passover and all the Jewish trade moved."
How has the business changed?
"The competition is tougher. No one is making trips to the butcher, the baker. I'm going to the supermarket -- ShopRite -- and it is hurting the old-time bakeries. This used to be the location of Margie's, and Larry's was down the street. But since Larry's closed after Passover, it seems all the Jewish trade moved."
What was your most important deal?
"Opening this bakery. Although my family has had many bakeries, they were my father's. He's been in the business for 50 years, and before him my grandfather used to bake bread in the old brick oven."
What changes do you expect in your business in the next 10 years?
"I hope the bakeries will be around. It's tough. The price of everything keeps going up. It's really tough."
What's the most important thing you learned about the business?
"The most important thing is to keep everyone happy and keep the goods as fresh as possible. If you have a few screw ups once in a while, you always have to make good on it. No one is perfect. Don't let the customer leave aggravated, take care of him because if you don't take care of him, someone else will."
What advice would you give to someone considering your line of work?
"If you aren't willing to work hard, put long hours in, go sell shoes or something else. This is a tough business."
Is there anything else you would rather be doing?
"I don't know too much (about other work). Baking is all I know. .I've done construction, but I've always come back to the bakery."