Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1340137
2021 Siloam Springs community guide | 30 F ew people can say they successfully opened a business at the peak of a worldwide pandemic, but Downtown Bakery has prevailed. At the start of 2020, stay-at-home-mom Elise Blasengame was operating a small but busy baking business from her home to make extra money, with no intention of opening a storefront. With three kids under the age of eight and her eldest, Soren, with Down's syndrome, she was happy to be able to earn an income and be a hands-on mom at the same time. Baking seems to run in the family, as her father's parents owned a bakery in Siloam Springs, and her mother was a home-baker for six kids as well. At home with Soren back in 2013 and on a tight budget, Elise decided to teach herself to bake birthday cakes, partly to save money. She did a little research, finding information online and on sites like Pinterest, and started baking and selling mainly cakes. Eventually, she expanded into cookies and other non- perishable desserts. Now, Downtown Bakery offers those plus truffles, pies, macarons, dessert bars, cheesecakes, crème Brule, jumbo cupcakes and cinnamon rolls "as big as your head," made by her mother and business partner, Daunelle Bishop. In the summer of 2020, a storefront became vacant and Elise was presented with a great opportunity to rent it. Although Elise was content working from home, mom Daunelle convinced her that the building, formerly Joni's Salon, was too good to pass up, and they partnered on the bakery, which opened September 1, 2020. Elise's two sisters pitched in, one working at the bakery and one watching Elise's kids when she needed. "It was a win, win," said Elise. When asked if the pandemic affected her business, Elise can thankfully say that she has remained busy over what's been a trying year for many; getting busier, if anything. "It definitely changed in that instead of being booked just on weekends, we're now consistently busy during the week, too. People are celebrating birthdays on the actual day, not just the weekend, and having smaller, intimate gatherings." Downtown Bakery is currently booked for custom orders a month out, but they do have daily offerings of cakes and other desserts like cake pops, cheesecake and pies you can drop by and pickup, when available. e jumbo cupcakes and her mom's "big as your head" cinnamon rolls sound irresistible, and Elise pointed out "We have something different every day." "Part of the reason I started A family business thrives on love and sugar | By Rhonda Baber-Crone