Kelvin and Teresa Maynard in front of the forthcoming Sweet Teez Bakery in the 1200 block of Dorchester Avenue on the ground floor of the Dot Block building. Seth Daniel photo
Like any great recipe that becomes better through trial and error, Sweet Teez Bakery in the Dot Block building on Dorchester Avenue has overcome many trials and challenges but is finally ready to open next month.
“At the beginning of June, we’re looking for a soft opening and by the end of June we’ll do a grand opening,” said owner Teresa Maynard, of Dorchester. “I’m excited and terrified all at the same time.”
Sweet Teez has been in business more than 10 years working out of Commonwealth Kitchen’s shared commercial facility, building up a large clientele on the strength of cakes, cookies, and cupcakes. But once she, her husband, Kelvin Maynard, and their three children were ready to make the jump to a brick-and-mortar space, the right spot proved to be elusive.
After they failed to secure commercial space in Codman Square and Blue Hill Avenue, a storefront in Dorchester Avenue’s Dot Block beckoned.
“We’re in the best condition to go into this space because of all we’ve been through and where we’re at now,” said Maynard this week. “I just feel the time is right. We’ve overcome a lot of challenges and cleared a lot of hurdles to get here. That’s a testament to the grit it takes to run a small business. I always say you want to fail small and succeed big.”
Inside the new space, the ceilings are pink, the vibe is easy comfort, and the kitchen is a marvel of modern baking technology. Specializing in cakes, cookies, and cupcakes, it includes not only her existing business but also a large café space with tables, booths, a couch and high-tops facing the street, all perfect for people watching.
Teresa said they will be venturing into new territory, adding coffee, tea, grab-and-go items and, most importantly, ready-made cakes without a wait.
“People would pull up to Commonwealth Kitchen all the time trying to buy stuff from me, but you had to order online and there was a wait of several days,” she said. “I got calls all the time from people looking for a birthday cake that I couldn’t fill. With this space, the seven-day wait will come down to just come in and get it.
“You could also only get limited options with cupcake flavors,” she added, “and now it will give people more options. We also like people and now we can interact with customers and that’s a win-win.”
A pink ceiling frames the café space with creative lighting, a couch, and large glass windows to catch all the action on Dorchester Avenue. Seth Daniel photo
The Sweet Teez hallmark has been— and remains— nut-free products. With a nut allergy herself, Maynard started her company with the goal of being nut-free but could never really promote it because she was in a shared kitchen. That all changes now.
“It’s going to be amazing to be 100 percent nut-free finally,” she noted.
To support the catering business, they’ve invested in a Baxter walk-in convection oven that can bake 900 to 1,000 cupcakes at a time. They have a new cookie-pressing machine from Italy that can quickly make customized products. Not to leave out the large walk-in coolers and freezers for on-site storage, and the instant sanitizing dishwasher system that makes quick work of used baking trays.
But beyond the economics and efficiencies is the emotion attached to opening a shop that Teresa has dreamed about for so long – especially down the street from their family’s second home, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester (BGCD). Their kids have grown up there and it’s a place that embodies the values they will instill in their new store.
“The thing that brings me the most joy is two blocks away is BGCD and kids that look like us will be able to come here and see me operating this business and understand that it’s possible,” she said. “That’s the best part of this journey and I’m serious because growing up in Dorchester we didn’t see a lot of that.”
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Courtesy photo
A view from the barista area, where drinks will be made.
An Italian cookie-pressing machine will allow them to make more cookies and customize them at the same time.
The kitchen area is nearly twice as large as the spacious café area but is built to support the existing catering business.
The exterior of Sweet Teez Bakery in the 1200 block of Dorchester Avenue.
