The Localista
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Ray’s mom was once the chef at Bayfront and he used to watch her cook. Ray delights in telling the tale of her walking up to the house one day saying she could smell some good pancakes being made somewhere only to find it was ten-year-old Ray who had commandeered her kitchen and was making them from scratch. He learned how to bake at 17, after being promoted from bag boy to bakery clean-up at Albertson’s. Within six months, he was the bakery’s assistant manager. He may have learned a lot during his time there and at Publix, but Ray credits Marty, the Jewish baker from New York at Grant’s Bakery in Seminole, with having taught him the most.
So, about that “Sugar” … Ray had been boxing since he was 14 and yes, Sugar Ray Leonard was one of his favorite boxers. As the boxing and the baking were happening at the same time he adopted the nickname. He started training fighters in 1992 and opened his own place, Southside Boxing Gym. As a trainer Ray traveled around the world and met the likes of Joe Frazier and that other Ray, “Boom Boom” Mancini. Pugilism fans should ask to see Ray’s photo album showing him next to all the boxing greats.
In 2008, Ray got out of boxing and started promoting, but he was always talking about the bakery he wanted to open. While he was running R.A.M. Boxing Promotions he also sold cakes and pies on street corners and friends kept asking him to make them cakes. Opportunity knocked when Moscato’s Bella Cucina decided to vacate its original space. Those who believed in Ray and believed in his dream stepped forward, including his business partner, who owns Angie’s Cafe and Papa Angelo’s. David Marshlack, co-owner of Bishop Tavern & Lounge, where Ray continues to work as a bouncer on the weekends, told Ray he had an oven in storage he was welcome to have until he could get his own. Ray is very grateful for all of their help.
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That’s a lovely story and all, I hear you say, but you want to know if all their efforts were worth it – i.e. can this man bake? Pow! That’s my sweet tooth getting knocked out. Here’s what I would say after that, “mmmm, mmmm, mmmm!” The answer is a beyond-resounding, “damn right, he can!” Anything I tried from his mom’s-recipe-carrot cake to the apple pie to the cookies was too good for words. In fact, it was slightly embarrassing to stand there producing sounds that really should only be made in private (or in the deli scene of When Harry Met Sally). At one point one of his customers came in and proclaimed he was now happily married because he gave his sweetie a Danish Ray had made and she thought he’d made it.
Ray has big plans for his little bakery, such as the wedding cake display that’ll be going in and the fresh juices he’d like to offer. I can’t urge you enough to race right over. I’ll definitely be back and often. I still need to go a few rounds with that cinnamon whiskey cake (and the sweet potato pie … and the cranberry orange scone … and the …).
The Localista always asks business owners what was their favorite book as a child. Ray not only surprised me with stories of his past, but with his choice – Stephen Crane’s poetry.
Sugar Ray’s Bakery is located at 230 4th Street North and is open Mon-Thu from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm and Fri from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed Saturday and Sunday).
727-623-9987
*Facebook page coming soon*
*** Photography provided by Featured Artist of the Burg (FAB) Sheri Kendrick of Enchanted Forest Photography(www.efpgallery.com).
“The Localista,” aka Olga Bof, will be opening her own local and independent business, Cheeky Monkeys Books & Toys, later this year in Downtown St. Pete (www.facebook.com/cheekymonkeysbooks for updates).
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