For years, Kira Crawford dreamed of owning her own “little bakery.”
On May 4th, she realized her dream by reopening her bakery, Kira's Sweet Bakes, in Mantova.
Crawford's business has come a long way since its inception.
As a child, she spent hours baking in the kitchen with her mother, and while her memories are full of sweet treats and traditional recipes, the first thing she remembers making was peach cobbler.
In fact, the cobbler became one of her signature products after she started a small business selling the treats from her home to Mantua businesses in 2021. Naming the business Kira's Sweet Bakes, Crawford ran the business for a year before deciding she wanted to do more.
“It was a big hit. People loved my cakes. People loved my cookies. So I said, 'It's time to take the plunge and make a big decision,'” Crawford said.
In 2022, she and her husband, Gary Crawford, began operating a bakery on Prospect Street in Mantua.
Crawford said customers loved her cakes and cookies, but there was one problem: She had no kitchen.
Crawford's passion for his shop meant he would bake bread at home all night and run the shop all day.
“I loved what I was doing but I was tired. I was exhausted,” she said.
Because the building didn't meet the standards for adding a kitchen, renovations were not possible, so after a year of operation, the couple decided to close the business and look for a new location that already had a kitchen.
A year went by and the Crawfords began hearing from village officials and others in the Mantua area: A new location had become available on Main Street in Mantua, formerly the Main Street Sub Shop, and some in the community thought it would be a great fit for Kira's Sweet Bakes.
The Crawfords jumped at the opportunity, and on May 4, Kira's Sweet Bakes had a grand reopening with the mayor of Mantua, the local Chamber of Commerce, other area businesses and community members in attendance.
“I'm so grateful for the Village of Mantua,” Crawford said. “I love this town. I love the people.”
Randy Ellis, president of the Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce, said Kira's Sweet Bakes is one of many businesses that help centralize Mantua's shopping experience.
“Small businesses like Kira's increase the selection of goods and services available locally so our families don't have to leave their hometown to get what they need,” Ellis said.
He said small businesses in Mantua are also making shopping more personal.
“You may have to walk from store to store instead of down various aisles, but shopping while having a conversation with a store owner who actually knows you and your family makes for a much more enjoyable experience,” Ellis says. “You're more than just a credit card to the cashier.”
Crawford values this personal touch: running a bakery means she can connect with the community and see people's reactions to her treats.
“I love the reaction when people enjoy something I make that makes me happy,” she said.
Kira's Sweet Bakes is open Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at its new location at 10698 Main St. Her signature items, including peach cobbler, cinnamon rolls and pepperoni rolls, sell out almost every day.
When asked what she thinks about the future of her business, she replied: “Right now it's fun, so I'm just going to take it one day at a time. I'm really enjoying what I'm doing right now. Who knows where it's going to lead.”
Crawford said it's comforting to be able to share something sweet with the community she loves.
“I hope people will try my stuff and put a smile on their face,” she said.
