Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Keddington.
Hi Amanda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Our bakery began about ten years ago with a simple goal: to give our son, who is on the autism spectrum, a place to learn job skills and grow confidence in a supportive, family-centered environment. We wanted him to have the chance to practice being a good employee with us first, before stepping out into the workforce. What started as that small idea has grown into something much bigger — a family business built on love, patience, and a whole lot of flour.
Baking has always been a part of my life. I started experimenting with recipes when I was around twelve or thirteen, and I’ve been tweaking and perfecting them ever since. About eight years ago, we decided to take things more seriously. I began baking out of our home kitchen for friends and family, and before long, word spread. My grandpa and dad even converted an old camping trailer into a tiny bakery kitchen so we could keep up with orders. We baked out of that trailer for a few wonderful years — small space, big dreams.
When the world slowed down during COVID, we did too. After twenty-one years, we found out we were expecting our miracle baby, who’s now a joyful five-year-old and the light of our lives. (Our two older sons are adopted, but they’ve always been every bit a part of our family — and every part of this bakery — from the very beginning.)
After taking some time to adjust to life as a family of five, we opened our first official shop, a cozy little 200-square-foot space attached to the local theater. We loved serving our community there, getting to know our customers by name, and watching our dream grow one batch at a time. Then, in May of last year, we moved into our current location — a warm and inviting 700-square-foot bakery that truly feels like home.
Everything we bake carries a little piece of our story — family, hard work, and a love for good, simple food. Our bakery has always been about more than just sweets. It’s about connection, inclusion, and the comfort of something made by hand and from the heart.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s always been pretty smooth! Of course there are growing pains of learning how to have employees and how much you can physically do yourself but overall it’s truly been a joyful experience!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We love to take recipes and think of all the possible ways we can make them more unique and more something with a lot of heart! And we’re pretty well known for a cheesecake cups and our cookies! Creating recipes is my very favorite thing to do!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love all of the visitors that come to our city! This summer we hung up a corkboard map of the United States and then as people came in they were able to pin their hometown. It was so wonderful to see how far people would come to our little community! We loved hearing their stories and hope that we made them feel welcome in our small little town.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mandy-joes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandyjoesbrowniebars
