Neighboring shops make sweet gesture to help local bakery

GREECE, N.Y. (WHEC) — Jackson’s Bakery in Greece has its ovens back up and running after they broke down while filling holiday orders. The owners of the shop say they haven’t had a problem like this in 30 years, and that other local businesses didn’t think twice about lending a helping hand, or in this case, an oven.

Ovens are heating back up inside Jackson’s Bakery on Stone Road, but that wasn’t the case earlier this week.

"Our safety valve went, so that’s why we couldn’t turn it on,” Matthew Belk said, the owner of the bakery.

For the first time in decades, display cases only had a few delights inside, but in a pinch, Belk says, Carbone’s Pizzeria, The Dutch Mill and Trotto’s Pizzeria didn’t think twice about making a sweet gesture to help.

“You tell me when you need me and I’ll be here to open the door for you, unfortunately, Carbone’s ovens were a little too hot, I have been using The Dutch Mill and Trotto’s. Trotto’s brought his temperatures down because he doesn’t use them all.” Belk said.

Annmarie Simmons, the owner of The Dutch Mill, says the bakery had some luck with their ovens.

"It’s the least we can do to try and help a neighbor, I’m sure they would do the same for us if they could, and I would absolutely do it again,” Simmons said.

Cooking temperatures weren’t the only challenge, a baker’s oven is very different from a regular restaurant oven.

"I got two guys in back that to re-learn how to use an oven for our product because they’re so different, it’s all flat decks it’s all bottom heat, whereas ours, we get a full circle,” Belk added.

Belk says, asking for help can be difficult, but as a local shop, he would do anything to be able to serve a plate of happiness to his community.

"I’m going to do what it takes to get these orders out, to fulfill the communities demand for sweets and sugar,” Belk said.

If you’re looking to order a tasty treat, Jackson’s says they will be taking orders for the rest of this week and a few days next week, just in time for Christmas.