Bakery struggling in pandemic gets needed boost from customers
KENOSHA, Wis. - A longtime Kenosha bakery is experiencing ups and downs during the coronavirus pandemic. Just like any small business, the worry now is -- what to do to stay afloat.
Oliver's Bakery in Kenosha has made life pretty sweet for its customers.
"It has been a staple in Kenosha," said Anne Benson, bakery owner.
Anne Benson
But the pandemic has been sprinkling stress and worry on the owner -- with no way to sugarcoat the impact of COVID-19.
"All cakes went from full sheets, half sheets, 12-inch down to 7-inch, single pieces," Benson said. "I was scared, I was upset."
Benson vented on Facebook about the reality that the business was struggling.
"I woke up at two in the morning and looked at my bank account and went, 'Oh my goodness. How am I going to make it? I have payroll this week and I just found out that day that I didn’t qualify for the new PPP loan.'"
Her social media post was a recipe for success.
"I had lines out the door around the block," Benson said.
The next day, everything sold out by 7:30 a.m. With business rising for the next two weeks, the baked goods had zero shelf life.
"They didn’t care what they bought. They bought everything. By the end of the day I had one pie left in my whole store," Benson said.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android
The community's support remains consistent. But through all the layers of the pandemic, the icing on the cake for Benson is...
"They do appreciate small businesses and they want us to stick around," Benson said.
If you would like to support Oliver's Bakery, the owner said a constant flow of business is better than a surge -- and to pre-order.
Featured
Gov. Evers issues new statewide mask order after GOP repeal
Gov. Tony Evers signed new executive orders establishing a statewide public health emergency and requiring face coverings in public places to protect the health and safety of Wisconsinites.
Featured
DHS: 1,518 new positive cases of COVID-19 in WI; 41 new deaths
The number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin rose by 1,518 Thursday, Feb. 4, officials with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported, for a total of 546,955.
Featured
Who will receive a third stimulus check? What we know so far
Congressional Democrats are barreling ahead on passing a sprawling coronavirus relief plan without any Republican support, likely ensuring that most Americans will receive a third stimulus check.