Raymond Dubiac has made a business out of baking.
Sugar Ray’s Bakery, 50 Sturges Road in Blakely’s Sturges neighborhood, crafts a variety of pastries and other delights, including cupcakes, babycakes and cakes for birthdays and other special occasions, as well as pizza by the cut. During the holiday season, more popular items include seasonal pies, cookie trays and specialty rolls.
Chef’s Table recently chatted with Dubiac about the bakery he co-owns with his wife, Joellen.
Q: When did you open?
A: We opened officially in December of 2018, just in time for the Christmas season that year.
Q: What is the history of the restaurant?
A: After many years of working in the bakery business under my father and in other small shops, I decided it was time for me to open my own shop. The search was not easy, and it took awhile for us to find a building that was fitting for our needs. Then one day, we stumbled on this location for rent in the small town of Sturges. We knew it would be perfect because of the location and it being close to home. Sugar Ray’s is still young in its history, but the value of being a small, family-run business is an important staple for us. We are looking to make our history richer in the years to come and hopefully become a staple in the community.
Jake Danna Stevens / Staff Photographer
Q: What kind of food do you serve, and what is available for people with special diets?
A: We serve a variety of breakfast pastries, including Danish and our locally famous cinnamon buns. Also for sale are our varieties of cookies and a large selection of desserts. Around holidays, our best-sellers are our seasonal pies and our nut, poppy, apricot, prune and cheese kolache rolls. As a bakery, something many people don’t realize is that we also sell pizza. Cakes also are made ready to order for birthdays, special occasions or if you’re just in the mood for one.
Q: What are your most-ordered menu items?
A: If we had to pick just one item, it would definitely be our cinnamon buns. Who doesn’t love the taste of cinnamon buns in the morning?
Q: How would you describe the restaurant’s atmosphere?
A: Sugar Ray’s is a friendly environment that is great for quickly stopping in and grabbing some breakfast food before work or grabbing a dessert for after dinner on the way home. We believe we have the best staff and the best customers.
Q: What type of seating do you offer?
A: We do not offer any indoor seating.
Q: Do you offer delivery, takeout and/or curbside pickup?
A: We currently do not offer any delivery services or curbside pickup. We are available for takeout though.
Q: Where do you see the bakery headed in the future?
A: With the threat of a pandemic-ridden world, we hope to sustain enough for the near future. We hope to continue to offer friendly service and delicious desserts and pastries, and we are extremely grateful for the continued support from our customers.
Laura Rysz is the features copy editor and calendar editor at The Times-Tribune and runs the Talk of the Times column, which focuses on local fundraisers and other events. She also writes Chef’s Table that profiles restaurants around the region. Additionally, Laura curates events online on AccessNEPA.com. Laura is involved in the special Mother’s Day edition and curates occasional features Marry Memories and Times Travelers. She is a graduate of Haddonfield Memorial High School, New Jersey, and earned an English professional writing degree with a minor in mass communications from King’s College, Wilkes-Barre. She also earned a certificate in Social Media Marketing from Rutgers Business School. Contact: lrysz@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5228.
