When Melisa Stone started culinary school, she had no idea her own bakery would be rising so quickly.
"I was just going to go work for someone, try to find a job in this field," said Stone, who graduated as a pastry chef in December, moving with her family from Kansas City to Holts Summit during her last few months in school. "I just thought it would be more fun to do it in my own time and at my own speed."
Stone has been operating Mimi's Sweet Treats - named for the name her grandchildren call her - out of her home for about six months, and she opened its permanent business location at 3148 State Road AA in Holts Summit this month.
"Originally I was just going to do custom cakes from the house, but it turned into people wanting more stuff. And we got too busy to try to do it in the house, so we decided to open up the bakery," she said. "Now, we have a building, and everybody's starting to come by, so we started making things to sell each day."
Along with classics like cookies and cinnamon rolls, Mimi's Sweet Treats tries to offer off-beat treats occasionally - like last week's maple-bacon doughnuts.
"Usually we have doughnuts and cinnamon rolls and cookies - it kind of just depends on what I decide to make that morning. We don't have a set menu as far as what's available each morning, but we can do anything by order," Stone said. "Doughnuts seem to be a big hit. Lots of people are asking for them, and we've been doing some different kinds."
She's equally flexible when it comes to larger orders. The original intention to bake cakes has expanded as far as one custom order of apple fritters.
"As long as it's something I can handle, then I'm willing to make it," Stone said.
Mimi's Sweet Treats, open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and by appointment on weekends, serves coffee all day and offers outdoor seating for customers.
To learn more about Holts Summit's new bakery, visit its Facebook page, called "Mimi's Treats 4 U."