Written by: Alana Svensson

Last week, the Northside Food Co-op sat down with Sophia Henry to learn more about her and her husband’s business, Cake Man’s Bakes, LLC. In 2009, Sophia and Thomas started selling pies and cakes to the local community. Fast-forward 12 years later, Cake Man’s Bakes, LLC. became one of the first vendors at Frankie’s Outdoor Market. Since its inception, Sophia and Thomas have been active leaders in the promotion and advocacy of the Northside Food Co-op. 

We asked her: “How did you get involved with Frankie’s?”

She replied, “me and my husband got a visit from Cierra. The co-op was passing through our neighborhood and shared that they were in the process of trying to get a farmer’s market started. They wanted to know if we were interested. Of course, we were. They left some information with us. They promised that they would keep in touch with us until it all panned out. Which it did! So a year and some months later, here we are at the farmer’s market. I think we made an excellent choice joining on. Today, we are an advocate for Frankie’s Farmer’s Market. I just love it. I love the environment and the people that we have met. I’ve received so much knowledge interacting with everybody.” 

“How long have y’all been making cakes?” 

“We’ve been making cakes since 2009. We just recently celebrated the anniversary of our business!”

Ms. Sophia was originally in the medical field before becoming a full-time baker. She said, “being in the medical field, a lot of changes were being made during the pandemic. I felt like I was in the wrong place. I decided to start following my passion. I love healthcare as well, but I thought, ‘maybe I can start doing something new.’ We already had a customer base who were encouraging us. That encouragement pushed us to start a business. One life at a time, we are making things a little sweeter.” 

“Have you been a lifelong baker?” 

“Yeah, I got the idea from my mom back in the day. There was one particular cake she liked to keep in the house at all times. That was called the Apple Jelly Cake. People loved that. I haven’t made one in a while, but I usually bring them out during the holidays.” 

“What does being a vendor mean to you, you as a community member?”

“I get to interact and meet people from all walks of life. You’d be amazed at the people who come through. I learn a lot about their heritage, their culture. It’s just wonderful. I meet someone new every day I set up at the market. It means a lot. I love interacting with people. I’m also excited about the community store. The grocery store means a lot to me. I’m from Wilmington, I’m a native of Wilmington. I was raised on the Southside of the town, but I’ve had both worlds. I lived on the Northside, as well. My mom lived on the Northside for quite a few years. When I was a kid growing up, we did have community stores. We had a Win Dixie, an A&P, those were the main two. We had a Piggly Wiggly. They had fresh vegetables. People could actually walk to those stores. Those community stores are a lot different from the monopoly stores like Walmart. When you go to community stores, you get to see Ms. Jones or Ms. Jackson, someone you haven’t seen in a while; you run into your neighbors. People know your name, they know who you are, and they know your family. It’s just like a warming feeling to have the store in the community. It makes you feel good.”

“It’s interesting to hear you had that growing up!”

“Yeah, we had that growing up. My mom was fortunate because she drove. We had this big old silver station wagon. A lot of people didn’t drive, but they still had access to the stores because they could walk. Same thing with the schools. It brought people together. We were healthier, I feel, because we were walking and active. But now, I gotta drive everywhere I go. With the co-op, I’m hoping that more will follow so that future generations can see what we experienced growing up. It was a wonderful thing. That’s what the grocery store coming to the Northside reminds me of. I take it personally.” 

“Yeah, it really is centered around community.” 

“I think it’s wonderful. And with people having part of the ownership, that makes it even more special. It’s like a baby. I want to take care of it, nourish it, I want to make it right. I want to be part of its development of it. I want to see it flourish like a flower. That’s my take on it.”

“Yes! It’s empowering.” 

“Empowering, yes. When you feel like something needs you, which the store will, it will need our energy and input; you tend to want to help it. That’s the way I look at that store. I want to be a part of that. I’m proud. I know that things will work out. It’s going to have to. I never thought we’d be here now from that initial conversation and them stopping by in the neighborhood. I never thought I’d be involved like this, but I am an advocate for Frankie’s. Y’all are my family. I feel you all are my family.”

Thank you to Sophia and Thomas with Cake Man’s Bakes for your love and care. You really do make everything a little sweeter, one life at a time.