While the small business may be run by my own mother and her closest friend, which might hint at some slight bias, Bright Side Sweets really is an outstanding place to purchase completely gluten-free baked goods

After being purchased from the previously popular gluten-free bakery known as The Griffin Bakery, Bright Side Sweets opened on May 6, 2017. Despite being well prepared for the big day, there was still a sense of uncertainty as Jenn and Christine ventured into something new, but once the first customers arrived, the atmosphere became relaxed and positive.

Before the details of the shop itself are discussed, let’s take a dive into the owners and what led them to taking on such a big task. The Griffin family, previous owners of the bakery, decided to sell the space and move to Texas.

While there were numerous offers asking for the appliances, recipes, and space to do other things, Jenn Check and Christine Bernhardt were the ultimate successors. They were determined to continue the gluten-free baked goods legacy. After consulting with their families and each other, the pair purchased the bakery and began renovation.

In a successful attempt to add their own twist to the bakery, new furniture such as counters, shelving and decor were added, the majority of which was painted to fit the new turquoise and coral color scheme of the bakery.

After walking in following the interior designing process, I was met with a sense of comfort. I felt that this was a very welcoming place in which people with dietary restrictions could feel recognized. Ultimately, this left an impact that made me want to stop by every weekend that I could. I loved the environment.

As far as the actual baked goods goes, Jenn and Christine came well prepared even before opening day.

About a week or so before May 6th, a friend and family taste testing event was held. Friends and family of the duo were welcomed to stop by in order to taste test and give feedback on products that would be sold on opening day. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and the two received tons of support.

While I was too young to recall the actual taste of the products I tested, I do remember being surprised that they were actually gluten-free.

While I enjoy their delicious treats, I’m sad that they are only open once a week for five hours. While you can’t blame them because the owners are both employed full-time, it’s disappointing to not be able to visit your favorite bakery whenever you please.

Because of this, the bakery is only open for 5 hours a week, from 8am to 1pm every Saturday.

Despite this, they still find a way to take special orders.

It’s also important to note that you can only purchase legendary items such as cake-pops, pumpkin chocolate chip bread, sugar cookies, and chocolate donuts on very special occasions.