ADRIAN — What started as a home hobby making birthday cakes for her four children turned into a baking career for Mandy Andrews, owner of Mandy Makes N’ Bakes. 

Andrews started working as a baker out of her home about 13 years ago. She then moved onto selling her baked goods at the Clinton Farmers Market after getting encouragement from friends and family. After finding success there, she started promoting her business on Facebook, and got “a ton” of orders, Andrews said. 

Andrews took some culinary courses as part of her electives while studying for an associate degree at Jackson College, but largely considers herself to be self-taught.

“My granny was a very big influence on my baking ability,” Andrews said. “She loved to bring me into the kitchen and teach me stuff.” 

“My love of decorating grew by watching YouTube videos and following major cake videos,” she continued. 

When her children got older, Andrews said it made “natural sense” to move into a separate facility and start a commercial enterprise. After considered a different site, Andrews chose to move into a space in downtown Adrian after finding “a deal that was too good to pass up,” she said. 

She signed a lease for the location at 117 N. Main St., and after renovation, was able to move in and start baking on July 15. 

“I’m best known for celebration/wedding cakes,” Andrews said.  High decorative birthday cakes, tiered cakes, wedding cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, cookies — “Literally, any sweet confection you can think of, I can do,” she said. 

“People will usually contact me and say ‘I need this cake,’ and then they’ll send me a picture of something they found online or on Pinterest, or they’ll describe in great detail and tell me what exactly they want,” she said. 

Mandy Makes N’ Bakes currently takes orders online only. Andrews recommends ordering at least one or two weeks in advance. Two weeks in advance is preferable, she said.  She can increase her workload in the new location because of the commercial oven and big mixers, instead of working from home. 

“Things get done quicker,” she said. 

While the downtown Adrian location is now open for pickup only, Andrews hopes to expand the business to have daily items for sale and offer a rotating menu. 

Doing business in Adrian continues a legacy that was started by her father and by living in Adrian for most of her life.

“I’m a big community-minded person,” Andrews said. “I am a born-and-raised Adrian, Michigan native.”

“My dad was a business owner, so I’m kind of carrying on that business, entrepreneurial role for the next generation,” she continued.  “Of course, I have a passion for cake decoration, so I love doing that. I like to make people happy by eating good stuff, too.”

Mandy Makes N’ Bakes can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/mandymakesnbakes or reached at [email protected] or 517-442-3630.