Mattapan native Carlene O’Garro grew up baking box cakes with her mother for Sunday dinner. Last week, O’Garro opened her first store, thanks in part to a loan from Sam Adams Brewing Company.

O’Garro opened her bakery— Delectable Desires Pastries— at 1755 Centre Street in West Roxbury in a ceremony with her family, Mayor Marty Walsh, and Sam Adams’ founder Jim Koch. The first 100 customers were treated to a Sam Adams Super Bowl cupcake give away.

O’Garro started her business in 2007, making cakes, cupcakes and pastries. At the time, she was unable to have her own shop, so she sold her baked goods in whole sale to various cafes and shops around Boston.

After being hired by Sam Adams Brewing Co. to cater a small event, owner Jim Koch saw potential in O’Garro and was reminded of himself. Shortly after, she became the first participant of “Brewing the American Dream” program, Jim Koch’s brainchild. The initiative is designed to give affordable loans to small businesses that work in the food and beverage industry. With the help of the nonprofit lending firm Accion, Koch has provided support to small business owners since 2008.

Cakes are O’Garro’s favorite thing to bake, but she loves the challenge of heavy dough deserts like croissants or brioche. She feels a special pride in her work, especially when she can see the reaction from her customers after receiving their custom-made sculpted cakes. She went to culinary school in Cambridge and worked in Jamaica Plain before she became the budding entrepreneur she is now.

All of O’Garro’s beautifully designed desserts are handmade from start to finish and can be delivered. As well as typical cakes and deserts, she also makes European pastries and sweetbreads. 

O’Garro wants aspiring entrepreneurs to know the huge impact the program has had on her life.

“It isn’t just, ‘Oh, you need money, here you go,’” she said. “They nurture you into a better business owner through events on marketing, inventory, anything you need.”

On choosing West Roxbury for her first bakery, O’Garro said, “I wanted an area with walking traffic. It’s also close enough to where I and my customers live. I love Jamaica Plain, but it’s already saturated with bakeries.”

Since she has opened her own shop, she has found a challenge in delegating tasks and balancing her many responsibilities. On advice for fresh small-businesses, O’Garro said: “It’s not an easy journey. It’s very rewarding, but you have to put years of time in. Never stop grinding, and always protect your brand.”