Local Shop Offers Baked Treats & Unique Gift Items
Photographer / Elizabeth Hubbard
Becky Whiteman, owner of The Olde House Bakery & Gift Shoppe in Silver Lake, had a dream to open her own business, and has worked hard to make that dream a reality.
“I bought the shop in 2015, and I was also working full-time at Carson’s department store in Warsaw at the time,” Whiteman says. “I stepped down in 2017 to a part-time position at Carson’s, and I opened (The Olde House) in the fall of 2017.”
To achieve her goal of owning and running a business, Whiteman had to work extremely hard.
“For three days a week I worked at Carson’s, until we found out they were closing the store in 2018,” Whiteman says. “I had to figure out how to make my business work full time, and that’s when we put the bakery in.”
Many Silver Lake residents are happy Whiteman made the decision to offer delicious baked goodies at The Olde House. Some customers come in to buy one of her delicious strawberry, blueberry, cherry, apple or chocolate pies, while others might choose to purchase a tasty cupcake.
The cinnamon rolls, cookies and cakes at The Olde House are also popular. Whiteman does specialty cakes as well, and customers can call for pricing. Her cakes have been a big hit at weddings, showers and graduation parties.
“We sell some baked goods in the store, but we also do a lot of baked-to-order items,” Whiteman says. “I’m a small bakery owner, so I can do custom stuff and also make items from scratch.”
Positive word of mouth has helped Whiteman tremendously. She has already garnered return customers and friends who like her sweet treats and special gifts.
“People are still finding me, but I do have several loyal customers that come in to get pies, cookies or, a store favorite, our cake balls,” Whiteman says. “Our shop is small, but very charming as well.”
Whiteman has plans to expand her business in the future with additional products.
“I am always trying to figure out how to grow my business, so in a couple months we will be adding produce to our shop,” she says.
Whiteman strives to make the gifts in her shop extra special for consumers.
“We are always trying to make as many handmade items as we can, just to keep us unique,” she says, adding that The Olde House also offers jewelry, tea and coffee. “We have primitive home decor, candles, soup, and dip mixes, as well as our baked goods.”
Whiteman is very fond of Silver Lake, and local residents who have become friends.
“The Silver Lake area is home to us, and I feel the town is growing with some unique businesses here,” she says. “It’s hard to be a small business in a big world, but I know this is my passion, and that it’s a very special little shop.”
Visit The Old House at 608 N. Jefferson Street in Silver Lake. For more info, call 260-802-1346 and visit facebook.com/theoldehouse608.
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