A bittersweet closing: Owner of Sweet Mel's, 88, says he'll be happy to leave the stress behind
Sep. 23—For more than a decade, the aroma of pies, sweet breads and cookies wafted from a small bakery at 623 E. Oak St., bringing smiles to those who loved pastries, young and old alike.
Sweet Mel's Bakery relied on word of mouth for its small slice of success over the last 13 years, and on Friday, its creator Mel Haining locked the doors and went home for the last time.
"There are just too many articles, too many items, that you have to do in a bakery," he said. "I'm one man, and it's hard to keep help. It's frustrating. You come in, you plan for that day, and they don't show up. I've been here 13 years, I'm 88 years old, and I want to do something else before its too late."
Sweet Mel's came to fruition when Haining began baking pies in his garage in his spare time. Unable to find any to his liking in town, he decided to open his own bakery and share his homemade pies with everyone.
After consulting with friends, Haining approached Richard Sorensen of Jergen's Refrigeration, who offered him a spot at 623 E. Oak St.
Sorenson initially offered Haining a four-month stay at the location. But four-months turned into 13 years.
Before he delved into the bakery business, Haining was a heavy equipment operator from Tempe, Ariz. He moved to Lodi in 1989 to be closer to family.
His mother was an excellent baker and cook, and he learned to do his own baking in high school.
When Sweet Mel's opened in 2010, Haining received a large amount of positive feedback. His best selling pies were the Marionberry, apple, apricot and peach, but he also offered a German kuchen pie, creme pies and cheesecake by request.
Outside of the bakery, Haining was also a regular vendor at the Lodi Street Faire and Stockton farmers markets.
His pies weren't just known in Lodi though. His daughter would load up her Chevrolet Suburban and transport pastries to his granddaughter's school functions in Southern California, and other relatives would take them to Idaho.
"It was good," Haining said of his 13 years at the bakery. "I've never been in the food business. I've always been in construction. It's a new experience. If anybody's thinking about food, they need to get another thought. You've got to be either way up or at the bottom."
While Haining will be taking a break for a while, he is considering a new venture in the future.
"I'm contemplating a hot dog trailer," he said. "I have a real good chili for chili dogs, and I don't see anything like that around."
The bakery will reopen next Wednesday, but with a new owner and new name.
Haining said the friend of a woman who assists him at the bakery's front desk has purchased the store. He does not know what the new name will be, but the new owner will bring in some bakers, and the woman who helped him will still run the front counter, along with her grandchildren.
All the ingredients and materials Haining used to create his pies, cakes and cookies will remain at the bakery for the new crew.
The only things Haining took with him when he closed up shop Friday were memories, and maybe some of the Mexican spices he used for some of his pastries.
"It was a chapter in my life that I'm glad I experienced," he said. "But I'm also glad it's over. I have grandkids that are going to miss it probably. I'm not gonna miss it. Soon as I walk out that door today I'm going to be happier than I've ever been, no stress. My wife will really be happy too."
