Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Forbes.
Melanie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Twisted Dough Bakery was started by my daughter, Brooke, her senior year in high school. She began baking and selling her scratch-made cakes, cupcakes, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and breads out of our home. Soon enough, she was receiving so many orders that I ended up stepping in to help. One year later in November of 2022, we opened our storefront. When we first opened the storefront, Brooke had just graduated from high school and was working full-time at a local bank. Two months after we opened, she submitted her resignation and began working full-time at the bakery. We started out with myself, Brooke, and a sweet young lady who worked the front for us a couple of days each week. November will be 3 years since we opened and we now not only serve sweets (dozens of different items each day), we also have a full lunch menu of sandwiches, salads, and wraps, breakfast items, acai bowls, oatmeal bowls, frappes, and lemonades. We have also grown to employing 9 people in addition to Brooke and myself. Our community has embraced us whole heartedly and we have made countless wonderful friendships in our sweet town.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Growth was the biggest struggle. When we first opened, we were working the front counter and baking at the same time. It even got lonely at times because we were in the building by ourselves until a customer came into the shop. One of us would work morning shift and the other would work afternoon shift. Our front counter help was only there for about 10 hours per week.
As you know, we’re big fans of Twisted Dough Bakery. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Twisted Dough Bakery is owned by a mother-daughter team. We pride ourselves on being a scratch made bakery that offers traditional food items along with creative and unique items you don’t typically find in small town bakeries. We offer a large variety of items on a daily basis, which is something our customers love. Most days we will have a minimum of 3 dozen different sweets. Daily specials are a staple to our lunch menu, from pizzas to wraps, soups, and pastas, our customers always get to enjoy scratch made specials in addition to our large daily breakfast and lunch menu choices. We have offerings for any budget!
Our favorite part of owning TDB is connecting with our customers. They have been so supportive and such a blessing to us since we opened. We have formed many friendships within our community, which is something that is very important to us.
Camden Chronicle Readers Choice Awards; New Business of the Year 2023, Best Dessert 2023, 2024, 2025
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.twisteddoughbakery.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twisteddoughbakery
