Brownies anyone?
Local brownie makers needed a place to produce their sweet treats. SWOCC’s Curry Campus provided the perfect start-up kitchen.
Michele and Steve Berlant were known throughout Curry County for their excellent brownies. They had been attracting loyal customers since 2013 to their Old Agness Store Bakery & Spice Shop. Then in 2017, they lost their kitchen space in Agness.
Their customer base was increasing and they had a growing online business. Scrambling, they relocated to Gold Beach, and the hunt was on for space. They needed a commercially-licensed kitchen. A friend suggested contacting the community college’s Curry Campus, knowing there was such a kitchen in the building. After a visit to the campus, the Berlants were back in business, using the college as a “business incubator” option.
“Having the kitchen at SWOCC to utilize allowed us to maintain production and GROW!” Michele said.
The original recipes for the brownies were Michele’s – and she has converted her already delicious recipes to gluten-free versions.
In early 2022, the couple was able to move their business to a permanent ‘brick & mortar’ space in Gold Beach. These days the Berlants ship their popular brownies and blondies worldwide, and they have added hot sauces, and Oregon-produced cheese and meats. They also just hired a second employee.
“SWOCC has a fantastic facility. In fact, I would love to have their kitchen here at our new space. They were very accommodating. The support of the Curry Campus and the community here has been amazing,” said Steve.
For more information visit www.OldAgnessStore.com.
