4 minute read
Jacquette's Bakery: Celebrating 40 Years of Delicacies and Generations of Patrons!
Business Profile by Holly Stupak
Photos by Dan Hall, Prestige Photography
Jacquette’s Bakery has roots in Marple and Newtown Square that stretch 40 years. The Marple Newtown community has always been the heart of Jacquette’s Bakery.
The owner of the business, Dennis Jacquette, prides himself on the connections he has been able to build with his customers. His children grew up working in the business and he has served the families in the area with his dedication to his business and creating an incredible product.
Jacquette’s is grounded in the belief that people should be respected. The staff have felt so appreciated that some have stayed nearly four decades, and customers have felt dedicated enough to stay just as long.
Dennis Jacquette, Owner of Jacquette’s Bakery
Photo by Dan Hall, Prestige Photography
“I’m a blessed man with a wonderful family. I’m blessed because I have such wonderful customers,” Dennis said. “I have families who have grown up on our goodies, and their children are now my customers.”
One customer, Dennis was proud to share, first came to Jacquette’s when her family got her a custom cake for her 16th birthday. After years of returning to Jacquette’s, the same woman came to the store to get her daughter a cake for her 16th birthday. Years later still, that same woman is coming in for cakes for her grandchildren.
Jacquette’s is a family-run store, with some employees who have become family over time. One decorator, Dennis noted, has worked in the bakery for 40 years and continues to improve in her work and her passion for what she does. Even when she put herself through school, she continued to work part-time at the bakery.
Dennis and his wife Stephanie first met in a bakery, believe it or not, and have been happily married for 47 years. They have three children, who are now grown with five children of their own. Throughout Dennis’ life, there has always been an emphasis on family and love, coincidentally staged in a bakery most of the time.
Some of the delicious desserts Jacquette's Bakery offers
Passion, joy, and a sweet tooth are folded in with dedication and hard work, to create the atmosphere of this family-run bakery. The motto of the store is “Life’s short. Eat dessert first.” When Dennis goes out to eat, he always scans the dessert menu first, to decide what he will be saving room for at the end of the meal. Though it may be easy to get overwhelmed with work and stress, a store like Jacquette’s is a warm reminder to stop and enjoy the sweet things every now and then.
Dennis looked back with a smile on a memory of a cake delivery gone disastrously wrong. Jacquette’s had created a custom cake in the shape of a slot machine. With a lever and button attached, this cake was a large, complex creation that had to be handled with care. Dennis managed to deliver the cake all the way to Roxborough, and was walking up the steps to drop it off when he tripped on a step and the cake tumbled! With his talent, experience, and the help of friend who owned a bakery in the area, Dennis was able to whip up another cake, just as incredible, and deliver it in time for the customer’s celebration.
Though that memory was a uniquely difficult business challenge in the moment, it is something Dennis looks back on with a smile now. With this store, the Jacquettes have been able to share in the special days of their friends and neighbors all across Marple.
At the end of the day, running a small business can be incredibly difficult. When asked how he manages to keep a business for that long, Dennis explained:
Dennis isn’t surprised to work 36 hours non-stop to produce enough baked goods for the holiday seasons. To him, that’s just part of this job and it’s something he wants to do, to satisfy his customers. And in the recent months, with many small businesses being forced to close due to the pandemic, he feels grateful to be open for his customers who continue to support him. “In times like these, many people still want comfort food,” he said. “And our customers have been very generous, especially to the staff.”
Despite the long hours and difficulty of running a small business, Jacquette’s Bakery is a joy for Dennis and the Jacquette family around him. “It was something to do until I grew up,” Dennis said, “but I never grew up. I just grew old.”
Celebrate all the Grads & Dads with Broomall’s Finest!
610-353-2550
www.JacquettesBakery.com
Custom Cakes and Desserts • Homemade Pies • Mini Pastries • Sticky Buns • Cookies • Party Trays • Artisan Breads • Famous Cream-Filled Donuts
2076 Sproul Road, Broomall
