Local baker Grace Robinson needed something to do.
The Michigan native was living at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in 2019 with her husband and firstborn when she got the idea to start making sugar cookies for other families on base.
The idea wasn’t far-fetched. Robinson had worked in several bakeries before starting her family, including Celebrity Cake Studio in Tacoma, where she learned the more decorative elements of baking.
The cookies were a hit. And though her husband’s military duties took the family to different locations for extended stretches, Robinson continued to work on her craft. She started making sourdough bread and experimented with different varieties of baked treats.
About two years ago, Robinson and her husband moved into their current home in Rainier, now as a family of four. When their kids reached school age, Robinson returned to the idea that had emerged on base — only this time she was inspired by micro-bakeries she had seen online.
“We’re kind of right off of a main road,” Robinson said. “And I thought … it might work.”
So, while securing her business license and cottage food permit, Robinson perfected her recipes. She sold custom cookie orders online. Her husband built a walk-in bakery stand in the front lawn.
On May 1, Robinson officially opened her bakery stand under the name Butter Sweet Baking Co. The self-serve operation is open Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Customers can place and reserve their online orders for pickup, or they can drive to the stand and browse the weekly options, which include fresh loaves of sourdough, savory focaccia, and plenty of cookies to choose from, like chocolate peanut butter, confetti with almond cream, and the new campfire cookie — loaded with marshmallow, chocolate chips and graham crackers.
Robinson offers a variety of payment methods, including cash, Venmo and credit card.
Arriving patrons can’t miss the stand, which is itself an impressive piece of craftsmanship. Two white planters flank the cozy wooden store that sits at the end of a brief walkup path.
An A-frame sign closer to the residential street lets you know you’re at the right place.
The trick is knowing which street to turn on to. Online customers learn the stand’s exact address at checkout. Otherwise, you can find it by heading along Minnesota Street North on Thursdays.
Finding the store is part of the fun. Rainier residents Bruce and Trish Palmer discovered it from another sign they spotted off Minnesota by the train trestle. They’ve been back a number of times since.
