The Wells County Chamber of Commerce staff and Ambassadors surprised Melissa Burke, owner of Grand Sweet Shop, with the December Member of the Month recognition. Grand Sweet Shop is located at 953 North Main Street in Bluffton.
Burke shared that opening a bakery wasn’t part of her original plan. Prior to launching the business, she owned a cleaning company and was looking for a new direction. “My husband suggested we buy a building and start a baking business. That was the furthest thing from my mind,” Burke said. The couple purchased their building six years ago, despite its rough condition, and began what she describes as “a bumpy ride.” However, the support of her family, friends, and the Wells County community helped her through the transition. “I didn’t know a soul in Wells County when I moved here from Fort Wayne. This is the most giving community I’ve ever seen,” she shared. “Being here has been redemption for me.”
All three of Burke’s children have worked at the bakery, and today the business employs about ten team members. “I can’t say enough about who works here, because they’re phenomenal and incredibly talented,” Burke added.
Grand Sweet Shop offers a full bakery menu featuring donuts, custom cakes, cookies, bars, cupcakes, and other desserts. All-day breakfast options include donuts, biscuits and gravy, their popular breakfast bowl, and breakfast sandwiches, with croissants baked fresh every morning. The café also serves homemade soups daily, along with salads, sandwiches, and their popular chicken salad made with baked-in-house chicken and served on fresh croissants. A customer favorite is their custom specialty coffees using Black Rifle Coffee served in the café by the cup and sold in packaged form with a wide range of flavors.
In addition to walk-in bakery items and daily specials, Grand Sweet Shop also provides breakfast and lunch catering for local businesses. Burke shared that she enjoys helping workplaces treat their teams with fresh pastries, sandwiches, and homemade meals. Local employers regularly turn to Grand Sweet Shop for meetings, staff celebrations, and special events.
Grand Sweet Shop is also known for its custom cakes, sugar cookies, and cupcakes, all made with homemade buttercream frosting. From birthdays, weddings and special events, the team works closely with customers to incorporate colors and styles that tie every detail together.
In addition to its bakery and café offerings, Grand Sweet Shop provides space for local artisans and small businesses to sell their products. Items include Wheeler’s Bees Honey, Sweet Creations freeze-dried candy, and seasonal décor handcrafted by Brenda Sprunger. “This is our way to help other small businesses get a jump start, sell during off-seasons, or simply have another avenue to reach customers,” Burke said. “We are happy to support other entrepreneurs.”
Grand Sweet Shop is open Tuesday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. More information can be found at grandsweetshopin.com.
Pictured in the photo left to right:
Erica Lehman, Lehman Appraisals, Chamber Ambassador
Kevin Pritchard, Ruoff Mortagee, Chamber Ambassador
Erin Prible, Executive Director, Wells County Chamber of Commerce
Heather Morgan, National Oil, Chamber Ambassador
Jessica Karafin, Grand Sweet Shop
Kody Kumfer, Forgotten Children Worldwide, Chamber Ambassador
Mercedes Tyree, Grand Sweet Shop
Jacob Duncan, Farm Bureau Insurance, Chamber Ambassador
Melissa Burke, Grand Sweet Shop, Chamber Ambassador
Rory Antrim, First Bank of Berne, Chamber Ambassador
Nick Huffman, Steffen Group, Chamber Ambassador
Kira Lee, Three Rivers Federal Credit Union, Chamber Ambassador
Ben Renkenberger, United Way, Chamber Ambassador
Ted Brinneman, MidWest America Federal Credit Union, Chamber Ambassador
Danielle Thompson, Flagstar Bank, Chamber Ambassador