RICHMOND, Ind. — Mayor Dave Snow says the city and other organizations stand ready to do what they can to help save an 80-plus-year-old bakery downtown, but the next steps need to be taken by the owner of the business.
Joy Ann Cake Shop has operated from the same location in the 600 block of East Main Street since 1936, but owner Cindy Scheele recently told the Pal Item the business is struggling and its future is uncertain.
Snow said he first learned about the bakery's tenuous situation when Scheele wrote a letter to his office asking for help. That spurred Snow to organize a meeting that included himself, Scheele, representatives from Center City Development Corp. the Indiana Small Business Development Center, and others.
The purpose of the get-together was to figure out what challenges the business faces and how best the city, Center City and/or the ISBDC could lend a hand.
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"There was a tremendous amount of support offered in that room — Center City wanted to be a partner; ISBDC wanted to be a partner — and a lot of this was going to be a free-of-charge service to her," Snow said.
"There are avenues that are available. There are components that can be utilized. However, it depends on the need of the business. Is is a workforce issue? Is it an equipment issue? Is it a real estate issue? But we had a very hard time ascertaining the core of the issue."
According to Snow, Joy Ann was offered a free space in the farmer's market, staff training and other assistance. Officials later met with the bakery's accountant to try to get a better understanding of what was needed to keep the business going.
"These are resources that are available to our small businesses. They've been made available. They continue to be made available," Snow said.
Scheele told the Pal Item she was upset by what she perceived as an insinuation that she was looking for a handout ("free money") instead of a loan or some other type of aid.
Others who took part in the initial meeting insisted they were trying to lay out all of the options available and come to an understanding on which of those would work best for the business.
"I felt it was a very positive meeting, lots of feedback was given from both sides, full of great ideas and full of definite responses on how we can help," said Jennifer Radford, who handles marketing and communications for Center City.
"I think maybe if we go back to the table and talk again maybe we can get more resolution. Whatever we can do to help her, I definitely think we're on board."
"From my perspective, the mayor and his team were very responsive when that need was initially expressed," said Scott Underwood, a business advisor for East Central ISDBC. "He offered access to all the resources the city has to offer for small businesses. Sometimes clients don't take advantage of all the resources that are available to them."
Messages left for Scheele seeking comment for this story were not immediately returned.
Snow called the bakery "a Richmond institution" with thumbprint and happy face cookies that have been "part of growing up" in the city.
"I grew up on South Sixth, right by St. Andrew's church. Joy Ann has always been an important part of family holidays, family birthdays, family celebrations," he said. "I'm a regular customer, so it's as important to me as everyone in this city that Joy Ann survives and thrives.
"It is my hope that Ms. Scheele will utilize the resources that have been offered, so that we can maintain Joy Ann for many years to come."
Snow has put city resources to work on behalf of downtown businesses before. He used economic development funds that are under his discretion to mount a marketing campaign this year urging residents not to let the road construction projects in the area keep them from visiting downtown. That campaign will continue into next year.
The business landscape along East Main Street has been in a state of flux throughout 2018. Chase Bank, Olympian Candies, Sanders Jewelers, Elder-Beerman and Hometowne Dining Company each have closed their doors.
Other buildings in the area have become occupied or found other uses. Ply Fiber Arts in the 900 block moved to a larger space next door, making room for a new bicycle repair shop. A new bar and restaurant is expected to open in that part of downtown by early next year, and the owners of a law firm and arts venue moved into a building in the 700 block late last year.
"Our locally owned businesses are really the heart and soul of our city, and so much of the infrastructure upgrade that we're doing and the quality-of-life elements that are being worked on now are to enhance that experience in the heart of our city and to empower our local business owners," Snow said.
"Stagnation was never going to be the answer. We have to enhance the downtown experience and bring more people to connect to what we have to offer in the heart of the city. That's very important. So we want to be here as a net of support as we go through this process."
Jason Truitt is the team leader and senior reporter at the Palladium-Item. Contact him at (765) 973-4459 or jtruitt@pal-item.com.
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