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Ashley's Pastry Shop

Ashley’s Pastry Shop Offering Cookies For A Cause

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This week, Ashley’s Pastry Shop is  baking to support those affected by the recent flooding in Central Texas. In partnership with  the non profit, Raining Angels, they are supporting the Hope House, sending sensory kits to the children and adults with disabilities that live and are served there.

A staple memory for many that attended Camp Mystic, a summer camp that was heavily impacted by the flood, are goodies known as “Tweety Cookies”. These infamous oatmeal chocolate-chip cookies were baked by camp co-owner Tweety Eastland for campers and staff.
Ashley’s will be baking these special treats this week, and 100% of proceeds from Tweety cookie sales will go to Raining Angels, an organization supporting Hope House! Hope House is a home that permanently houses and serves disabled children and adults in Texas, giving them lifelong care. It was one of the locations hit the hardest by the flooding. Stop into the bakery this week to try the Tweety Cookies yourself, and send hope and support to those in need 

Ashley’s Pastry Shop turns 43

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40 Years in Business

Theresa and Greg Hammons

It really doesn’t seem possible that it’s been forty three years since they opened the doors of their bakery shop on Park Avenue in Oakwood.

Owner Theresa Hammons shares, “as some may know, a baker’s hours aren’t always the easiest, but we love what we do and we cherish being able to have a business that we love, and we are thankful to be able to take some time off each summer to spend uninterrupted time with those we love.”

We asked here what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned over the years?

“I would be to surround yourself with a great team of employees, vendors, accountants, bankers, insurance agents- all the pieces of the pie that will make your business successful. Form a partnership with each of these individuals and consider them part of your TEAM. Also, engage in the community ,not only the community that your business is in but DAYTON as a whole. Dayton is truly a GEM city and see how you can make an impact in the lives of others.

We asked her what sweet treat she celebrates with?

“We will always have our sand tarts, but a slice of our  Fresh Strawberry Torte is a must have too!”

Finally we asked her to share advice  with entrepreneurs that want to open their own business:

Owning your own business and wearing the entrepreneur hat is a BIG one! A role that after 43 YEARS we still really LOVE. Work for others to develop your skill sets and learn from others, your way of thinking isn’t the ONLY way of thinking and by seeing how others operate you will be in a better position when you begin your own journey. Be prepared for adaptability and the unexpected . Keep in mind, we can not also control our situation but we can control how we handle and react to what we face.We are so fortunate that our passion has afforded us this great business. As one of our customers said… we are not a bakery but we bake memories layered in sugar, flour, sweetness and deliciousness  with  love and care for the ones that grace our doors. We are serving our 4th generation of customers and we are so PROUD of that honor we have been given. We have many customers that come in daily..we NEVER  take that for granted. Everyone has a choice and there are so many great choices in Dayton, we want to be sure they are happy with their experience and willing to share that with others.

Today through Saturday, when youvisit the store you can fill out a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of these prizes:

Ashley’s Pastry Shop

21 Park Ave,
Dayton, OH, 45419
(937) 293-1719
Tuesday – Friday 7am – 5pm
Saturday 7am – 4pm 

Dayton’s First Donut Fest

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Planned2Give, a local event planning business that hosts fundraising events for nonprofits in the Miami Valley, has really struggled, as the pandemic has truly shut down most of their events. But they’ve decided to launch a new event, that can be successfully executed during the pandemic.
Dayton Donut Festival on Tour! is a self-guided tour of the Miami Valley’s  locally owned donut shops, which kicks off this Friday, Feb 12th and runs through Sunday, Feb 21st.   Purchase a coupon booklet for just $25 and you’ll get a coupon that can be redeemed for 3 donuts at each of the 10 stops on the tour, during each shops regular hours (a couple are even open 24 hous), which are noted in the booklet.  According to P2G co-founder Jeff Jackson, “it feels good to create an event that will draw traffic to these small independent shops at a time when business is slower due to the pandemic.”
Participating donut shops include:
  • Ashley’s Pastry Shop – Oakwood
  • Bear Creek Donuts – Miamisburg
  • Bill’s Donut Shop – Centerville
  • Donut Haus – Springboro
  • Donut Palace – Huber Heights & Trotwood
  • Duck Donuts – Dayton
  • Evans Bakery –  Old North Dayton
  • Jim’s Donut Shop – Vandalia
  • Neighborhood Nest- Fairborn
  • Stan The Donut Man- Kettering
Ticket sales benefit Miami Valley Meals, who serve those who are affected by food insecurity, by providing bulk nutritious chef-prepared meals to organizations that feed the hungry. In March of 2020 Miami Valley Meals began work to support a project addressing pandemic needs. Co-founded by Chef Matt DeAngulo, Bill Evans and Amanda DeLotelle, the mission was to employ pandemic furloughed culinary professionals to quickly and efficiently bulk prepare frozen meals from recovered food for distribution through organizations that feed the hungry.  By “serving those who serve the hungry,” we hope to support efforts of existing operations through food, freeing up their resources to focus on their missions and outreach.  This community organization is making such a huge difference in our community, currently serving over 5000 meals each week. 
 

 

Where To Order Your Thanksgiving Pies

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It may be the most popular dessert at  Thanksgiving dinners, but pumpkin pie didn’t make an appearance at the First Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims probably lacked the butter and flour needed to make a pie crust, and it’s not clear that they even had an oven in which they could have baked a pumpkin pie.

Speaking of baking- if you’re responsible for bringing the pie to your holiday dinner, here’s a quick round-up of places to pick up those sweet treats if you don’t have the time or talent to make them yourself:

Ashley’s Pastry Shop
21 Park Ave, Oakwood

 (937) 293-1719

Apple, Cherry, Pumpkin, Pecan, Lemon Meringue or Mince Meat

While you’re there pick up specialty breads, rolls, decorated cookies, pumpkin rolls and more!

 

 

Ghostlight Pies

Orange pumpkin on blue rustic wooden table.

 

1201 Wayne Ave, South Park
(937) 985-2633

You are encouraged to use the above link to order online.
Deadline to order is Sat, Nov 18th at noon.  Pick up is Tues or Wed afternoon

Choose from Ghostlight Thanksgiving Pie. Mama Smiths Fantastic Apple Pie, Pumpkin & Maple, Kentucky Bourbon Pecan Pie.  You can also order gluten-free dinner rolls and sweets like snickerdoodles and more.

2495 Commons Blvd, Beavercreek
(937) 912-5140

All pies are completely homemade just like grandma made. We will be making:
Pumpkin pie, Apple Pie, Cherry Pie, Blackberry Pie, Key lime Pie,
Coconut Cream Pie, Chocolate Cream pie, Pecan Pie, Lemon Meringue Pie,
Butterscotch Pie and Peanut Butter Pie.  All pies start at $13 each

 

Mehaffies Pies

3013 Linden Ave, Dayton
(937) 253-1163

Offering about 30 kinds of pie and a seasonal pumpkin roll order a couple of days ahead for special requests or stop by to pick up traditional Thanksgiving flavors like apple, pecan and pumpkin for under $10.

 

Whole Foods

1050 Miamisburg Centerville Road
Dayton, Ohio, 45458

You can order online at the link above from a selection that includes apple pie, bittersweet chocolate Pecan Pie, pumpkin s’more crunch pie, gluten free  pies that include apple, pumpkin, pecan (pictured) and cherry.  Pies range from $10-$16

 

Tina’s Sweet Treats (A Gluten Free Bakery)

4271 S Dixie Hwy, Franklin
(513) 429-9428

Bakery Thanksgiving Pie Menu
Deadline-Saturday, Nov 18th
Pick up is Wednesday, November 22nd 10:00-7:00
All pies are 9”
Pumpkin-$16.00, Pecan-$16.00*, Cherry Crumble-$16.00*
Apple Crumble-$16.00*, Cranberry Apple-$18.00*
Caramel Apple-$20.00, Bourbon Sweet Potato w/Pecan Topping-$20.00
Frozen Unbaked Pie Shell-$5.00*
Dinner Rolls (1/2 dozen)-$4.50*
*-Dairy Free option available
To place order: comment on this post, send us a private facebook message, or email us at [email protected]

You can also find their Unbaked Pie Shells at Jungle Jim’s International Market Fairfield, Jungle Jim’s International Market Eastgate, and all 3 Dorothy Lane Market locations in the freezer section

 

Here’s another tip:

And if you’re really running tight on time- DoorDash can pick up your pies around town.  Use the blue link for them and get $7 off your first delivery.

Homemade Deliciousness and Genuine Care: The Perfect Recipe

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The warmth of the sun’s rays kissing my cheek, the smell of homemade goodness embracing me as I push open the entryway, and the friendly smile of the woman behind the counter all contribute to my gentle coaxing into this cozy shop in the middle of Oakwood. This woman, Theresa as I will come to know her, is the owner of Ashley’s Pastry Shop, and located all around her is heaven on earth—homemade pastries.

Now, I’ve always been blessed with a very intense sweet tooth (…or is it a curse?), so as you can imagine I was more than overjoyed to have the chance to “do my homework”, as we shall say, in order to write this article. But it wasn’t only the sweet treats that will bring me back to this bakery in the future; it’s also the people. The friendly environment and observable relationship between their customers and workers contribute to the little shop’s homey character. I felt like I wasn’t just another dime in the bucket, but an actual person whom they were excited to treat with the most satisfying treat possible. Once I arrived, Theresa very kindly offered me her most recommended pastry—a cheese Danish—which I can honestly say is the best I have ever tasted. It didn’t have that pre-packaged quality we have all experienced when biting into a mass-produced name-brand goodie. This Danish was the real deal. And shortly after I found out exactly what the secret is to the decadent sweets made exclusively in house at Ashley’s Pastry Shop.

The owners, Greg and Theresa Hammons opened this shop twenty-nine years ago and named the bakery after their first daughter. Greg’s family had owned bakeries throughout his life and when the opportunity arose for the Hammons to open their own in Oakwood on Park Avenue, they jumped at the chance. “It has allowed us to bake, be creative, and show our passion for the love of baking, while being part of the community,” explained Theresa. And over the years, this cute little shop has definitely become sewn into the fabric of the community. Ashley’s Pastry Shop now supplies many surrounding restaurants with pastries, such as the delicious bread at The Pine Club and Old Hickory Bar-B-Que. Ashley’s also gives all of their unsold bakery items to Catholic Social Services daily. This bakery may be little, but it has the biggest heart. When I spoke to Theresa, she emphasized how she believed we all have an obligation to give back to the community: “it is much better for a lot of people to do little things, because when it comes down to it, we may not have the means, time, or talent to do one big thing if we wait.” And let me tell you, these gifts that Ashley’s is giving to deserving charities and non-profit clubs are no little thing—a lot of time and effort goes into each pastry made in their kitchen.

Ashley’s Pastry Shop is very fortunate to have a great group of employees, most of them considered family now after being together over twenty-five years. A crew comes in at 11 o’clock each night and begins to bake for the next day. There are no cake mixes or prepackaged crescents behind those kitchen doors. Every item in their display cases and every wedding cake that appears on that couple’s special day are baked from scratch on site. Now that’s an amazing, and delicious, feat. Ashley’s is one of the few remaining bakeries that offer such a large homemade selection, ranging from Danishes to cookies to wedding cakes to donuts—anything catered to the customer’s desire. That’s another wonderful thing about this quaint, cozy shop; they are more than willing to work with the customer to fill any need, just itching for the opportunity to put their creativity to use. They are truly at your service, and trust me, you really can’t go wrong with any pastry you choose.

So next time you have a special occasion, or maybe you need something sweet to brighten your day, or hey, maybe it’s just a Tuesday, I highly recommend meandering over to Ashley’s Pastry Shop.  You could have the pleasure of sinking your teeth into a sand-tart cookie—a classic favorite that was actually shipped to three different coasts just last Friday! Or you could start your morning off right with a breakfast treat, like their cheese pocket (I know…I’m getting hungry, too). With the season being fall, Ashley’s is also featuring a lot of homemade pumpkin pastries. I assure you whichever you end up choosing will be pristine and truly a treat. Really, your taste buds might not be able to take the deprivation much longer, which is truly what it is considered if you haven’t yet savored a pastry from Ashley’s. It’s homemade goodness away from home, baked with love and care, and probably even a hug if that’s what the customer needs.

Doesn’t it just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

Ashley’s Pastry Shop
21 Park Avenue
Dayton, OH 45419
937.293.1719

Hours
Tuesday-Friday 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday  7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday-Monday  Closed