Petrolia Street Bakery
Petrolia Street BakeryEmily Core is nothing if not adaptable. The 26-year-old took the bold step of quitting university to become a baker and then when the bakery she was working at closed, she decided to open her own. Now she delightedly owns and operates Petrolia Street Bakery on Petrolia Line. Her bakery opened in 2019. "I always baked when I was younger," Emily says. "I went to McMaster University in Hamilton, but I didn’t really enjoy it. I decided then that I really needed to work with my hands, so I dropped out of school and signed up for pastry school. Now I have my own bakery."
Emily worked at a bakery in Sarnia and when it closed, she was left at a crossroads. "I was either going to move to London or Hamilton or I was going to go home and open a bakery because there weren’t any bakeries in Petrolia," Emily says. "I figured I would get in on it before somebody else did. It was definitely a little scary at the start. I didn’t have any business experience, so I was kind of going into it blind. That said, I had a lot of support around me; people who were able to guide me."
Emily says leaving university and going to pastry school was life-altering. "It was remarkable to be at pastry school," Emily says. "I didn’t realize I needed to build something of my own to actually appreciate it. When you work on a paper at school, you write it once and then throw it away. With baking, you are able to share it which is really nice. They get to enjoy it. It is a nice thing to share."
Petrolia Street Bakery is open Tuesday to Saturday and features breads and desserts including brownies, lemon squares, and butter tarts. "I also take custom orders for things like cakes and pies," Emily says. "I am just starting to get into catering weddings which is the direction I want my business to go in." Emily says she is very thankful for the help she received from Lambton County Developmental Services (LCDS). "When I first started I was in a small space in Petrolia and it had been offered to me by the LCDS," Emily says. "They were huge supporters and they are the reason I am here. I did a Facebook page and one of my aunts shared it and it took right off. I couldn’t believe it."
Like so many businesses, Petrolia Street Bakery was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. "It was scary to begin with because I didn’t know if I should stay open or close down," Emily says. "Do I do orders? Technically I am an essential business because I sell bread, so I was able to stay open. It turns out COVID was actually kind to my business. The whole community supported me." Emily is also very thankful for the support she receives from her parents, Beth and Larry Core, and her aunt Susan Clifford who all pitch in to help.
Related Stories
John's Restaurant
John's Restaurant has seen many changes since they opened in 1964. In that year, John Stathakis bought the house standing at 1643 London Road. The previous owner had already been serving food on the premises. He would put a small sign out by the road that said EAT whenever his wife did so
Junior Baker
If there is one thing John and Nicole Moore have learned, it is when life throws you a curveball, you'd better be ready to swing the bat. The owners and operators of Junior Baker, a gluten free bakery in Sarnia, have faced many challenges over the years, but are thrilled to be working together ser
Bluewater Health Foundation
Bluewater Health Foundation is grateful for the businesses, organizations, and individuals in Sarnia-Lambton who have provided millions of dollars of financial support to aid in the purchase of equipment and provision of patient, staff and family programs for Bluewater Health since 2003. We are f
Planet Stitch
Duffy Simon thought his uncle was yanking his chain. "I was taking business marketing in college and an uncle of mine said there was a need for embroidery in the area," Duffy recalls. "I chuckled because at that point only my grandma did embroidery. But it turns out he was being serious. We were"
Related Stories
Bayfield Berry Farm
When asked what prompted Marlene Beyerlein to start a berry farm, she has a simple, one-word answer. "Insanity!" says Marlene with a hearty laugh. Of course, she is only joking. She has been enjoying running Bayfield Berry Farm in Bayfield, Ont., since 2001. "I come from a farming and forestry
The Glass & Pillar Spa
When Gayle Tidball opened The Glass & Pillar Spa in 2006 she wanted to create a business where people came to enjoy themselves. I love this industry for the transformation it offers a person. Making people feel good and seeing them relax in this space is so important to me, Tidball shares.
The Toy Corner
Ann Randall's career as a pediatric nurse took her from Sarnia to Montreal to Edmonton. When she decided to return home to Sarnia, she thought it might be time for a career change. I took a workshop through Human Resources Development Canada to assess my skills and strengths. The results indica
Kernels Popcorn
Justin Hayes already had plenty of customer service experience when he opened his own business. His father owned a Shopper’s Drug Mart and Sam the Record Man. “I worked at both Shopper’s and Sam’s, so I learned how to treat custom...