(Images: Sugar Bakery)

Stephanie Crocker chose the CHS Calendar to announce her retirement — and a First Hill celebration of ten years of Sugar Bakery:

When we opened Sugar Bakery & Cafe 10 years ago, we scrapped together a bunch of credit cards to finance it because the bank wouldn’t give us any money since my husband had had cancer the previous year. It was a huge risk and we had no idea we would make it this long. What is funny is that Sugar Bakery was originally intended as a place to explore our passion for pastry, but instead, it has unexpectedly become this amazing living community of customers and employees who just want to eat good food and laugh a little. Being surrounded by 3 major hospitals we have seen people come in going through some serious life issues only to fall in love with us because we somehow make them feel better.

And so, it comes with mixed emotions of both happiness and sorrow that we have decided to pass the torch. My husband and I are opting out. We’ve sold our house, our poor old pooch passed, and now, we’ve sold the business. Seattle just is changing so much, it’s time for a much needed break. It’s time to explore new opportunities in the food industry. We have purchased an Airstream and are going to take our two cats to see what the rest of the US is up to. We can’t leave Seattle without saying thank you to all our customers and of course numerous staff members through the years who made it all possible. Join us on Friday Dec 16th at the bakery from 3pm until we drop to help us carve into one of our favorite items to make, giant chocolate mousse mountain.

Crocker tells CHS that the bakery business will continue under new ownership. “I can tell you that as far as I know, the new owners will carry on the traditions and most of the recipes Sugar is known for,” she writes. “The bakery is in good hands with a very young baker who shows tremendous promise.” We’ll let you know when we learn more about what comes next for Sugar.

Crocker is now ready to hit the road with her husband and two cats in a tricked out Airstream. “We have pimped out the kitchen in our Airstream and we really want to experience and cook with ingredients from around the country from as many farms as we can get close to,” she tells CHS. “How I will incorporate my passion for baking and food in the future into some sort of job, I’m not exactly sure. My only goal is to explore my roots and do what feels right, and hopefully bring my body back into good health with a lot of cycling. We don’t exactly know whether we will return to Seattle.”

You can stop by to wish her well on her journey at Friday’s party.

10 Year Anniversary Party