Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanne Bennett.
Joanne, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up around good home baking, being the offering of Italian and Jewish parents, it’s all about the food! Before I came to the US I was a professional singer in London, singing at weddings etc, then when I got here the gig scene was totally different, so I picked up on my other love… baking!
I started out doing farmers markets all around San Diego. Taking family recipes and tweaking them a little, I love trying new flavors. I then move up to Ramona and needed a place to bake for the markets, and this place became available, I started out just using the kitchen and then realized that Ramona doesn’t have a bakery.
So I approached the owner of the building and she agreed that I could open the retail space.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We’re just coming up to our second year, but it’s been a long hard and emotional road. On the day we opened my then 18 year old daughter got sick at our grand opening. She was rushed to the hospital and stopped breathing and put on life support. She was later diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, and was paralyzed from the neck down and couldn’t talk or breath on her own.
So I had to spend nights sleeping next to her at the hospital and do what I could to keep the bakery open, I had a great support of friends to help me. That was in September, then in November I was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer, so while I was going through chemo and radiation my daughter was in the hospital too.
We are both doing well now, my daughter spent a year in hospital and is now home and out of her wheelchair and starting to learn to walk again, and I am in remission.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The London Bakery – what should we know?
We are defiantly known for our scones and shortbread, also our other speciality British cakes and desserts that you just can’t get here in the US
We clott our own cream and we make everything in house, jams, lemon curd etc. We’re also known for our wonderful high tea, and our menu is based on the Ritz in London.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My staff especially, we would have been long gone if it wasn’t for them, also friends and support from customers and locals they have been amazing. A special thanks to my baker Bonnie and my manager Lynn for all they have done.
Contact Info:
- Address: 632 Main Street Ramona CA 92065
- Website: eatlondonbakery.com
- Phone: 858 900 7363
- Email: info.londonbakery@gmail.com
- Yelp: The London Bakery
Image Credit:
The London Bakery
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