Community support inspired Sweet Cheeks Bakery to expand to Bangor area

Endless summer traffic along Highway 1A in Holden convinced Sweet Cheeks Bakery owner Jonathan Beal it was time to open a second location.

“The traffic flow is not a surprise, or news, to anyone who knows how busy that stretch of road can be,” Beal said. “I think we’ll probably be able to see a lot more people, or more people will be able to see us in this case.”

Sweet Cheeks’ original location on Verona Island doesn’t get much traffic, relying instead on people knowing about it, he said. That won’t be the case for his second location at Tradewinds Plaza at 113 Main Road in Holden, which will open July 20.

He decided to open the establishment with his life and business partner, Michael Roy. Holden is a community that supports businesses, which is another reason Sweet Cheeks is coming to town, Beal said.

The store will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, starting at 10 a.m. July 20, Beal said. It will feature four refrigerated vending machines — Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia — named after the stars of “The Golden Girls.” A television will likely broadcast the show 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he said.

“These are shows that make me feel good,” Beal said. “They evoke a better time and that’s wonderful.”

A handful of tables will be set up in the plaza for people to sit and enjoy their food, Beal said.

Cream cones, eclairs, carmelitas, tiramisu, pecan pie bars, lemon squares, Humdinger cakes, carrot cakes, German chocolate cakes, a variety of cheesecakes and other unique creations will be available in the vending machines.

The bakery will also offer gluten-free treats, like lemon bars and carmelitas.

Free samples, T-shirts, pint glasses and more will be given away at the grand opening, Beal said.

Once the new store opens, Sweet Cheeks may hold a monthly pop-up sale where it will sell items from Verona Island that aren’t suitable for vending machines, he said. People should check Facebook for more information.

Sweet Cheeks hopes to integrate into the Holden community as it has on Verona Island and surrounding communities. It has given more than $5,000 in scholarships to local high school students, Beal said.