Today we’d like to introduce you to Maren Close.
Hi, Maren. I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story? How did you get to where you are today?
My love of baking stems from a long line of great family cooks. Working with pastry is my way of contributing to that family legacy. I went to culinary school in Asheville and then moved to San Francisco to continue my education by working in bakeries and fine-dining restaurants throughout the city. I was living in San Francisco when my mom told me she had purchased a building in my hometown; she offered space for me to have my bakery alongside a gallery and artist studios. I moved back to Tennessee and started Lazy Lady, doing farmers’ markets and wholesale for area cafes. At the end of October 2022, we opened our retail shop.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Everything with building construction took a lot longer than expected. In my first year at farmers’ markets, no one knew who I was or what my product was like, so it took some time for people to learn about me and what I had to offer. COVID hit, and we had to switch many things up, too. I started doing a cab, community-supported bakery by delivering bread and baked goods to people.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Lazy Lady Baking Co.?
Lazy Lady is a from-scratch artisan bake shop in downtown Johnson City. Our specialty is laminated pastries, cakes, pies, breakfast bakes, and nontraditional flavors. We like to push flavors by combining sweet and savory, as well as a lot of herb and fruit combinations. We make items more than just lovely, enhancing the flavor of our produce. Our rotating menu changes often, so there’s always something new for customers to try. But we also always try to have some of our classic items weekly. Traditional and chocolate croissants are some of our biggest sellers, along with our breakfast brioche, bacon, egg, and cheddar in a brioche pocket.
What were you like growing up?
I was reticent growing up. I like to read a lot. I was also always into art and creating things. I loved painting my pottery places growing up. In high school, I got into photography and culinary arts.
Contact Info:
- Website: Lazyladybakes.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/lazyladybakes
- Facebook: Facebook.com/lazyladybakes
