We had the good fortune of connecting with Lorraine Richie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lorraine, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I honestly did not start out thinking that decorating sugar cookies would become a full-time endeavor, let alone lead me to open a brick and mortar in a completely different location than where I was raised. When our children were growing up, we would always bake and decorate sugar cookies, especially at Christmas. I don’t remember when I first started seeing professionally decorated cookies, but I do remember knowing that someday I wanted to do the same. That day would come in the winter of 2012. My children were at the age that they could play outback in the snow on their own and I saw my opportunity. I found a recipe for sugar cookies in a baking cookbook and a recipe for royal icing in a Christmas themed food magazine (I still have them both). I baked my cookies and made the icing and set to work on decorating. I wish that I could remember what I made and what they looked like but all I know is 1. I was hooked and 2. I had no idea what I was doing. I kept with it and gradually learned the ins and outs of decorated sugar cookies. From tips and tricks on royal icing to design and techniques, I learned by trial and error and determination. I thought friends and family might be interested in some Valentine’s Day cookies, so I put something out on Facebook and nervously awaited a response. I ended up making and decorating 23 dozen hearts that first Valentine’s Day. I did it again for Easter and had another great response. From then on, people started ordering cookies for birthdays and showers and before I knew it, it had become a full-time endeavor. In about two years’ time I had a solid understanding and was well on my way to more challenging techniques and designs. In 2014 I was contacted by an event planner in Alabama (I lived in New Jersey at the time) I started shipping cookies to Alabama and eventually would make a giant move to Montgomery, Alabama to further the business and provide a creative community to our children. We’ve been here for 5 years and in our bake shop for 7 months.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I specialize in custom decorated sugar cookies from birthday parties to weddings and everything in between. In 2014, I connected with an event planner through Instagram, I lived in New Jersey, and he was based in Montgomery, Alabama. Over the course of a few months, the question “when are you going to move to Montgomery and open a shop” was asked and what would follow became something that I had never imagined. The next 5 years would be a journey of self-discovery, faith, trust, and what most would call, risk. In March of 2019, my husband, four children and I would make a 900-mile move south to Montgomery, Alabama. I continued my cookie business under the Alabama Cottage Food Law and began hosting pop up shops on our front porch and at local businesses around town. Decorated sugar cookies, eventually lead to classic cookies, brownies, and other delicious homemade treats. On September 1, 2023, we opened the doors to our first brick and mortar on Dexter Avenue in downtown Montgomery. Dexter Avenue is home to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s church, the street is the last stretch of the famous walk from Selma to Montgomery that Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. led in 1965 for voting rights. It is part of the National Historic Trail which was established in 1996 to commemorate the events, people, and route of that march.

Besides being a way for me to express my creativity, decorating sugar cookies has become a way for us to celebrate community, and having a brick and mortar now gives us a place to express those sentiments in fun new ways. Lorraine’s Bake Shop has become a place of community and connection as well as the place for delicious treats. We aim to celebrate each and every person who comes through the door, whether it’s by a warm welcome and conversation, a lighthearted and fun cookie decorating event or by helping them decide/design the perfect sweet treats for their special occasions. Our tagline is Cookies Created for Community, and it couldn’t be more fitting.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would start with a drive through some of the historic neighborhoods such as Old Cloverdale and Cottage Hill. While in Old Cloverdale, we would stop to take in the beauty of the Old Cloverdale Community Garden and take a walk over to the First United Methodist Church on West Cloverdale Park, it’s history dates back to 1829. We would then head to Vintage Cafe on Cloverdale Street and enjoy a coffee and perhaps lunch. We would stroll through the shopping district there as well, with a stop at Melissa Warnke Candle Studio, Ex Voto, and other quaint shops. We would head downtown to Historic Dexter Avenue to go by the State Capitol, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s church, Prevail Coffee, our shop and the historic fountain. A visit to BeYoutiful Boutique is also a must!

We would head to the riverfront, the Hank Williams Museum, Bibb Street Pizza, take in some of the live music opportunities around town, including Red Bluff on the riverfront, Common Bond Brewery, and 23 Court. Our third coffee spot would be the Hilltop Public House and if Funky Forte food truck is parked and open there, we’d definitely grab a bite to eat. We would drive by all of the Equal Justice Initiatives museums and parks, and plan visits for another time. Depending on the time of year, we could take in a show at The Cloverdale Playhouse and/or Alabama Shakespeare Festival. The playhouse is a community based performing arts center while the Alabama Shakespeare Festival is among the ten largest Shakespeare festivals in the world, both put-on high-quality performances and experiences. The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts is another must see as well. There is no shortage of activity or things to see in Montgomery, Alabama.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be where I am today without my community, from my family, husband Bill and our children to our church community who gave me my first shot at officially decorating sugar cookies for an engagement party. Evan G. Cooper of Evan and Co. who took a chance on me, a jersey girl and who never expected me to make the move to his hometown and state. If it weren’t for my faith in God none of this would have been possible in the first place. I am beyond thankful for the countless people who have entrusted me with their sweetest celebrations, who continue to love and support what we do and always encourage us to keep going! We like to say that our business has never truly been about the cookies, you can find cookies anywhere, for us it’s about the people, the gatherings and celebrations – the community and I would be lost without my community. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Website: www.Lorrainesbakeshop.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lorraines.bakeshop

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/LorraineRichie

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lorraines.bakeshop

Yelp: www.yelp.com/LorrainesBakeShop

Image Credits
Jinny K Photo Grace Photography Studio Chelsea and Russ Photo and Video

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