'Every Bite a Delight': Couple Opens Marietta Bakery

MARIETTA — A Marietta couple is looking to bring a sense of nostalgia to the community after opening a bakery off Whitlock Avenue.

Daysha Mayfield and husband Mark Mayfield said Sweet Living Bakery is a combination of their two favorite things: food and community.

“We wanted to make sure that when (customers) came, they felt like they were getting something that was homemade...and they feel welcome every time they walk in the door,” she said. “...We want to make sure the space also speaks to the community and does things for the community.”

The bakery officially opened July 20 after a week of soft openings where community members, family and friends were invited in as the first customers.

Some of the bakery’s popular items include carrot cake, banana pudding and peach cobbler. They also sell a variety of breakfast and lunch items, including breakfast sliders, Cajun bowls and salads. Everything on the menu is made from scratch, from the cookies to the vinaigrette dressing.

One of Daysha Mayfield’s favorite items is the brownie cake, a dessert with a brownie base and layers of chocolate cake. Mayfield said the dessert was a special recipe from her aunt Dorothy, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 92.

Sweet Living Bakery is testing new menu items to see what customers like best.

“People have been coming back and trying new things...so right now, we are trying to figure out how much we need to make,” Mayfield said. “We’ve had great reactions as we’ve exposed the entire menu.”

Mayfield initially started selling sweets freelance 10 years ago out of a shared kitchen in Kennesaw. Originally, she sold her desserts to convenient stores, retail stores, and catering businesses under the name “Sweets.”

After finding the bakery’s home in Clocktower Village, Mayfield said they decided to rebrand. The word “living” was added to the name to give the business a more welcoming atmosphere.

“When we realized we wanted to have this physical location...we wanted to have a living-room experience, that’s where the whole (name) Sweet Living came from,” Mayfield said. “Then it became a part of a living space versus staying alone, it is just about the sweets.”

Returning customer Carla Byrd-Platt was impressed by the flavor of both the sweets and the lunch items.

“It’s amazing, everything is super fresh,” Byrd-Platt said. “It really is cooked to perfection, the texture is amazing. Every bite is a delight.”

Karen Smith, a first-time customer, said she is excited to have the new bakery in town.

“I like the décor, (and) I love the design of the place,” Smith said. “This could be a great place to sometimes bring my laptop...I could grab a bite before or after I do things (for work.)”

Mayfield believes Sweet Living Bakery’s welcoming environment helps set them apart from other businesses.

“Anytime someone comes in here, I want them to feel the presence of true love, true care, true significance,” Mayfield said. “I think small businesses (do) a great job with that, but sometimes when you’re in a bigger franchise or chain it’s hard to. So, we want to make sure (customers) know that we are here for them.”

Mayfield said one of her goals with the bakery is to provide a sense of nostalgia through their menu items. By making items from scratch, she said the staff tries to make desserts, “out of love, and out of (their) heart.”

The bakery has been a longtime coming, Mayfield said.

“Actually, physically being here and having this space and seeing it come to fruition 10 years later is mind boggling.”

Yet Mayfield said the business is just getting started. She hopes to get her business more involved in community events once they get settled in at their new location.

“Right now, it’s all about having a location, and then once we get everything up and going, we want to figure ways to partner with the schools,” she said. “We would love to do more events...(and) partner with other wholesaling (stores).”

Sweet Living Bakery, located at 999 Whitlock Ave. in Marietta, is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.