Sweet Jayne's: A Sweet Success in Downtown Gainesville

Carri Doughty leavened her love of baking into a small business success story. After a couple of years of home-based custom cookie orders and teaching cookie decorating classes, she wanted to open a storefront to sell fresh baked goods in her hometown of Gainesville Texas. The charm of downtown Gainesville whisked her to the area and with the encouragement of local business owners Paige Davidson of Cahoots and  Kelli Hunter of Bungalow 123, Carri took a leap of faith and opened Sweet Jayne's Bakeshop. This Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. you’re invited to help them celebrate their fifth anniversary!

The bakeshop continued to grow and two years later, Carri was dreaming of a bigger building in downtown Gainesville. During the summer of 2022 she opened a 2,400 sf Coffee Shop and Bakery with ample seating inside as well as on the patio, a large commercial kitchen, top-of-the-line espresso machine, and a drive-thru.

Don’t let the name fool you, Sweet Jayne’s has savory goods like handmade chicken salads, pimento cheese, biscuits, scones, and quiche.  There are also treats to please every sweet tooth like oatmeal cream pies, fudge walnut brownies, pie, macarons, lemon bars and a large variety of cupcakes to name a few. Every day is a different day in the bakeshop as there is no set menu.  The day starts with a shop full of fresh items and the goal is to sell out so that every day is a new fresh start, which sets Sweet Jayne's apart. You won’t want to miss Cinnamon Roll Saturdays with fluffy swirls of pastry, cinnamon, and sugar made from scratch and topped with cream cheese frosting.

Sweet Jayne’s customers enjoy high quality roasted espresso, handcrafted lattes, cortados and cappuccinos thanks to a collaboration with Amarillo-based Palace Coffee Company. Trained Baristas at the Espresso Bar specialize in making espressos with the perfect balance of acidity, sweetness and bitterness. They have also created unique beverages such as Upside-down Caramel Vanilla Lattes and Blood Orange Mochas.

Downtown Gainesville is becoming a destination 

Gainesville's tourism along with the proximity of downtown Gainesville to Interstate 35 has proven to be beneficial for downtown businesses. Travelers from neighboring areas like Denton, D/FW, and southern Oklahoma gladly veer off the highway to pay a visit to the bakeshop or for shopping excursions.

According to Carri, “There is great support and a strong sense of camaraderie among downtown business owners.” She attributes that support to the Downtown Development Association and the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Looking ahead, Carri believes that downtown Gainesville has the potential to support more sit-down full-service food establishments, wineries or upscale bars, and entertainment businesses catering to children and families. As the area continues to grow and evolve, there is ample opportunity for entrepreneurs to tap into this vibrant market and contribute to the downtown scene.

A success story in downtown Gainesville

Sweet Jayne’s has received tremendous support from Gainesville and the surrounding community. Over time that support has grown, especially during the challenging year of 2020 when many businesses were hit hard. Despite the challenge that year, Sweet Jayne's saw its highest sales.

Carri said, " I have been so fortunate that I had encouragement from family, friends, former educators, and childhood connections which have continued to grow. I like to say that the community stepped up and refused to let my business fail during hard times. Never in my wildest dreams did I think leaving a 25-year career as a Registered Nurse to follow my passion for baking and open a shop in my hometown of Gainesville would be so rewarding.”

Join Sweet Jayne's on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. to celebrate the five-year anniversary of the business. The party will take place at 211 N. Weaver St. in downtown Gainesville. Pay a visit to hear live music, enjoy face painting and giveaways. And don’t leave without trying a cinnamon roll!

ABOUT THE GAINESVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 

The mission of the Gainesville Economic Development Corporation (GEDC) is to create a diversified, vibrant, and sustainable economy enhancing the quality of life for residents and businesses. The corporation encourages economic expansion through supporting local business success and entrepreneurship development while assisting site selectors with relocation and expansion opportunities. To accomplish this, GEDC leverages local economic development sales tax receipts with private investments and city, county, state, and federal resources. Contact us for more information at www.GainesvilleTXEDC.com