Meet Jennifer Grayer of Lolli Bop Sweet Shop in Vinings

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Grayer.

Jennifer, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Born and raised just outside of Chicago, Illinois. My love for sweets and watching my mom in the kitchen inspired the little baker in me at a very early age. I started out with a single brownie baked in my Easy Bake Oven and quickly graduated to preparing holiday dessert spreads using a “real” oven. By my teenage years, I was crowned the “Cookie Queen” by my family of course…but it still counts.

Every day I would think about my bakery; what I would sell, how the shop would be decorated, what we would wear, etc. In my free time, I would develop menus and sketch drawings of the desserts and the décor of the shop, then I would file it away until the next time I had a moment to dream out loud. As the years passed and life brought on new opportunities including a relocation to Atlanta, Georgia, I held on to my dream to one day open my own bake shop. After a successful 15-year career in the finance industry, I decided it was time for something new and exciting. It was time to finally pursue The Dream.

My dream of owning a bakery that specialized in traditional desserts with a fun and modern twist was replaced with a grander concept when I decided that my bakery should be more than just homemade baked goods. I wanted to create a one stop sweet shop for everyone to enjoy! A shop with not only baked goods, but with wall to wall candy selections and the best ice cream treats. But that’s not all, it would have to be housed in the most wonderful and whimsical atmosphere that looked like the inside of a kid’s imagination.

The creativity and freedom of expression my craft offers are the best part. I love developing recipes and dessert concepts, as well as cake decorating. The most fun times at my shop are the days I get to create something new for the menu and let my imagination soar and see what sweet treats unfold!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The hurdles that my business has had overcome are not unique. I knew opening this business would be a lot of long hours and no days off which equates to a lot of personal sacrifices. Finding employees that share in my commitment of working hard and producing high quality products remains a challenge. If there is one area that I may have underestimated it would the human resource aspect; reliable employees are difficult to find.

Lolli Bop Sweet Shop – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?!
We specialize in baked goods including shortcakes (our version of a cupcake) and cookies. All of the baked goods are truly unique and made onsite using my own recipes. There are also a variety of creative ice cream treats like ice cream sandwiches, floats, sundaes and milkshakes. And of course, there’s the candy! Our candy wall is magnificent on its own but when combined with all of the other sweet treats, it makes the shop a sugar wonderland. We also create fun custom cakes for every occasion. The custom cakes have really taken off over the last year and has helped to make Lolli Bop a household name.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success by achieving a goal I set without compromising integrity and being proud of the end result.

Contact Info:

• Address: 2355 Cumberland Pkwy Ste. 110
  (Streetside at Vinings Plaza)
• Website: lollibopsweetshop.com
• Phone: 770-966-2411
• Instagram: Lolli.Bop
• Facebook: Lolli Bop Sweet Shop

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