Good things come to those who wait. And wait. And wait.
In 2017, I bought a house next door to the abandoned Howard’s Bakery. One Good Friday, I came home and it was just gone. Where the bakery had stood, there was nothing but a great big hole and a flattened corner lot.
Eventually, I bought the vacant lot through Metro’s side-yard program and thought I’d open a little seasonal beignet and coffee stand—just something simple for the neighborhood.
That plan didn’t work out, so I tried again. A friend suggested a doughnut shop on Portland Avenue near Shaheen’s. Then came COVID, followed by a year and a half of renovation delays. Eventually, I had to give up the space—but now I had a roomful of baking equipment.
Last fall, Portland neighbors Judy Schroeder and Gary Watrous introduced me to Sheba Bawah. Sheba had spent years working with Vital Sites to bring the old Schweitzer Pharmacy building back to life. He had once planned a doughnut shop of his own. He put signs in the windows and everything. But anyone who has restored an old building knows how plans can change.
We signed a lease in December and figured Sugar would be open in about three months. On July 10, I finally passed my health inspection. On July 13, a car hit the storefront.
Now, after several plans, several years, and a whole lot of patience, repairs are underway, and Sugar is nearly ready. We’ll start with affordable coffee, cookies, a few sandwiches, and other nice surprises. I hope you’ll stop in, sit for a minute, and have something sweet.
See you soon.
