New business owner turns trauma into dream fulfilled
By Chantilly Post
Sugary Swirl’s owner Sonia Esteves displays just a very small sample of the rich variety of her baked goods crafted exclusively on site. The shop is located just south of Dupont on the east side of Bathurst Street. Brian Burchell/Gleaner News
Sugary Swirls, at 1087 Bathurst St., is the newest specialty bake shop to open in the Annex. If cotton candy, Ferrero Roche, or ice-cream sundae cupcakes don’t sound inviting then maybe the modern-vintage decor and fresh flowers will invite you inside to order these treats and many more made fresh daily. Owner Sonia Esteves recognized her passion for baking at the age of six when she would spend time baking with her father. In June 2011, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was told it was time to do something that she has never had the chance to do. “I have my family, I have my two kids, I’m good,” Esteves said. But after having a vision of the times spent baking with her father, Esteves knew that opening her own specialty bake shop was what she had to do. Sugary Swirls officially opened on February 11th. The colour pink throughout the shop represents breast cancer, white represents new life, while the black countertop represents sorrow that was endured. After having a dream of the perfect location for her bake shop, and then finding the location two weeks later, Esteves knew it was perfect. “I couldn’t ask for more,” she said. Growing up just blocks away, she felt the Annex was a prime location for Sugary Swirls, herself, and her family. Sugary Swirls is one of the three newest specialized bake shops in the Annex. Bake Them Pretty and a specialty gluten-free shop will be opening along Habord Street this summer. “Because of the condominiums and these new sort of areas with more people,” said Neil Wright, of Wright Real Estate, “it demands more of these great shops, and in this case it’s bakeries.” Each shop has its own baked specialties that appeal to different customers and that no one else is doing in the area. Sugary Swirls baked goods are freshly made, never frozen, and are always made with passion. The most popular treats are the Tiramisu Tulips a chocolate cup filled with tiramisu, and the Mil Folhas, a vanilla-custard slice. Customized cakes and cupcakes are also one of Sugary Swirls specialties. “Anyone who [has gone] through trauma or a life-altering experience and has a dream that hasn’t been fulfilled follow your dreams, no matter what the obstacles,” Esteves said. The shop is open Tuesdays to Saturdays between the hours of 10am and 5pm.