August 8, 2024 • 18 mins
Discover how Michelle Mobbs turned a modest dream into Atoka, Oklahoma's beloved Truly Favorite Bakery. Michelle reveals the nitty-gritty of establishing her bakery on a shoestring budget to ensure affordability without compromising on quality. Learn how her creative use of recycled materials not only cuts costs but also creates a charming and unique atmosphere that keeps customers coming back.
Michelle's story is more than just about baking; it's about building a community. We dive into the essence of authentic customer service in small towns, exploring how Michelle's past as a teacher influences her heartfelt approach to making customers feel valued. Hear firsthand how the revitalization of Atoka’s downtown area has spurred a sense of unity and support among local businesses, and how personal connections can transform a business into a community cornerstone.
Finally, gain invaluable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs as Michelle shares her transition from a sewing shop to a bustling bakery with decades of baking expertise. From the overwhelming support of local residents to her initial fears of the unknown, Michelle offers advice on starting small-town businesses and the importance of balancing commercial success with community service. Don’t miss Michelle's heartfelt tips and inspiring journey, filled with personal anecdotes and practical wisdom.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Small Talk , the podcast from Communities
Unlimited.
Communities Unlimited is a501c3 nonprofit organization
with over 40 years of experienceaddressing inequity and
disinvestment in the rural South.
Find out more atcommunitiesuorg.
I'm Chris Baker and this ispart two of our series from the
community of Atoka, Oklahoma.
Today we'll sit down withentrepreneur Michelle Maub.
(00:21):
Michelle is the owner of TrulyFavorite Bakery, located in
downtown Atoka, and has residedthere for many years.
We wanted to get herperspective on the
revitalization efforts throughthe lens of someone running a
business in Atoka.
So in Atoka, Oklahoma, if yougo downtown, you're going to run
into a bakery.
It's called Truly FavoriteBakery and Michelle Mobs owns
(00:44):
the place.
So tell me about your bakeryand tell me about why you
started there and what you do.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
We bake everything possible that we can think of
that the community is asking forand wants.
We do custom cake orders.
We go to different events, setup wedding cakes, cookie bars.
We take a lot of pride inserving our community.
That's why we're there.
It took us a little bit longerto get established than what
(01:13):
most people probably wouldproject a business to take, but
we've done that in order to nothave a big bunch of overhead.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Explain what you mean .
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Well, I have a friend who changed paths because her
situation became to where shewasn't being productive and as
effective as she wanted to be.
So I had asked my husband onetime.
I said we are here in thecommunity not just for ourselves
, but to continue to be part andoffer them what they need.
(01:45):
We need to give the people whatthey want.
And I said so what is the mainthing?
If I had to ask you that andyou're answering me, what is the
main thing that people, one ofthe main things that people want
at this time?
And he says you would have toknow my husband, he says
something they can afford.
So I said that's exactly mythoughts on it.
(02:13):
So we took our time to get readyto open the business and people
would be like is it open?
Is it open?
And they would come by.
So we ended up hanging a brickcurtain on our double doors so
they couldn't see us working inthere.
Because if the door got leftopen, it's a great thing.
But they were coming in, evenstepping over ladders and
hammers and things that were outand about.
And I'm thinking in my headcertainly they can't imagine
(02:37):
that we would be open as abakery serving food with this
such of a mess here.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
You got the saw going and yeah, why not?
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Yes, but I think their vision was on get to the
treats, get to the treats, andthey really didn't see it.
To answer your question gettingmy building paid for and taking
the patience and time that thatneeded, and then using what was
around us and things that otherpeople in town weren't wanting,
keeping the budget as low aspossible so that when we were
(03:05):
operating we'd have like loadsof bills.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
And see, without the loads of bills, overhead of the
building or lease or rent orpayments, that allows us to
offer the customers a moreaffordable price.
I mean, we look expensive butwe are affordable.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
So that's some real entrepreneurial spirit there,
right?
I mean, that's a way of lookingat something for success.
Have you always been anentrepreneur?
Where'd that come from?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
I'm not sure.
I served in the publicclassroom and taught at the
college for years of my life andI just reached a point where I
wanted to just kind of retire.
And I do tutor kids andteachers mentor them.
It's hard to be confinedsomewhere in a building or a
room, and I think this would bea good statement.
(03:57):
A business owner does not havea lot of freedom, but on one
hand it feels like it's morefreedom to not have to ask, you
know, to jump in your car and goget something you need or but
as a business owner, you may notalways have the time to do that
, right, right, so you may nothave to ask, but you know.
And then you can plan, you knowyour work in big clumps of time,
(04:21):
knowing that you can have a fewdays rest after that so you can
sort things how you want them.
I'm working on the building wasa probably more.
It was a lot more work thanwhat a lot of people do.
I don't know that.
Um, recycling things, ifsomeone was throwing out a
chandelier that needed work, I'mgrabbing that.
Um, we have two repurposedchandeliers in our building.
(04:44):
Um, the bead board that coversthe walls gives us that vintage
look and we worked on that andsalvaged that.
We have a vintage fireplace inour sitting room.
Came out of an old farmhouseand then part of our area that
divides our lobby from ourdisc-like cases, from our
kitchen is a vintage farmhousehutch and we used it for a
(05:06):
partial wall.
And so there's so many stories,like Carol was explaining,
about Reva's having so manycomponents that you can walk
around and tell stories about,and it makes such a unique
situation, especially when wehave guests from out of town or
the tourists in town who see oursigns and come in and then you
can.
They're like oh, it's so cute.
(05:27):
And then you're like well, letme.
I'll talk you around and showyou some things and they get
really interested in backstories, like of what's going on in the
building, and it just makes itso much more meaningful.
And then you're allowed tobuild those relationships and
start there.
And that's ultimately what ourgoal is relationships and start
there, and that's ultimatelywhat our goal is.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
I mean, that's what we do in town.
So if we're looking at being abusiness owner, entrepreneur, in
a small town, what would yousay?
Some of the challenges you'veseen are specifically with this
business and like how have youovercome some of those?
What are you working on?
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Well, it's probably an opposite answer, but right
now trying to adjust the amountof bakery items going out, and
how do we keep up with thedemand?
I mean, I guess, as a newbusiness, you know, some people
face oh, I need some customersto come in, I need some
customers.
But I think ours is.
(06:23):
How do we keep up with thecustomers?
Speaker 1 (06:25):
It's a good problem.
You have the opposite problemthat you were saying Like why do
you think that is in yourcommunity?
What's the population in Natoka?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Almost 3,000.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
So yeah, 3,000 people Passed over a little bit 3,200
people, right?
I mean they're lining upoutside a local bakery owned by
a local person to get.
I mean that's not common.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I don't think that's common.
A long time, ok, so I've.
1989 was when I first enteredthe world of food service.
Ok, and I actually was doingevery job imaginable in the food
service world as I went tocollege and you know as my life
progressed to do my teaching andI learned that very early on.
If you can make a customer feellike the most special person on
(07:08):
earth, that that's where thethat's where it is, and don't be
fake about it.
Really care, really findsomething about them that you
can say to them, something.
They're wearing, you know theirsmile engage in conversation
with them and let them talk.
I see so many people who want to.
(07:28):
They just want to listen tosomebody so that they can get
ready to speak.
They have no idea what theysaid and I want to work on
myself and that's.
I believe that people shouldlisten to other people talking,
to hear what they have to say.
So I think actually and somepeople don't have that so when
someone comes in or comes aroundus, I think it's important that
(07:50):
we listen and put the focus onthem, because if they're in your
business, I don't think they'rereally concerned about your
personal life.
They may be concerned, you knowabout the building they're
looking at and awestruck, orwhatever's going on there.
But I think, keep the focus onyour customer, make them feel
like the most special person onearth and go up and out of your
way to make sure they're happyand make sure that you're doing
(08:15):
a great service for them.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
We've talked about the kind of unique situation
that your community of Atoka,oklahoma, is with Reba's
investment and that going on,you as a business owner, telling
me that you're going to put thefocus on your customers like
that, tells me that you haveopportunities to do that to
people you don't even know, andI think that's really, really
important because that'speople's impression of a
(08:39):
community, right, they mightcome off the highway, They've
heard of Reba's, they've got tostop and see what's going on
there, but I guarantee you theylook down the street and they
see the bakery you know and theywant to go there as well, right
, so that's, that's a uniqueopportunity for yourself.
That's a great viewpoint tohave on customer service, right.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
I believe that people remember how someone made them
feel before they remember otherthings Like, for example, if you
think, maybe, of a teacher youhad in school, I think it's it's
you're quicker to remember howyou felt in that classroom or
how you felt before you rememberwhat they taught in a lot of
cases.
So that feeling, thatauthenticity, the feel, the
trueness, I think, is what makesus, or makes me as a person and
my business what it is.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Can I ask you what you think some of the things
that the people who are workingon making a Toko's downtown what
it is and what they want it tobe and everything, what are some
of the things you think they'vegotten right?
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Actually understanding what a downtown is
.
When I was in the school systemwhich was a great thing I never
went downtown I mean like Danny, and when we were young I did
but there was a big gap in mylife where I didn't come to town
, so I couldn't even have toldyou really what was going on in
town and I really wasn't payingit any mind, and I don't know
(09:58):
why it was just.
I was at my workplace all dayand I really I want to get that
message out that your downtownis a place to meet the needs of
the people in the community, andwhen we have a situation where
it's just a side burner topeople and they really don't
understand what's going on thereand how important it is, that's
(10:22):
just saddening.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
I hope you agree with this statement, but the way
that I always think of it islike that's a place where true
community happens, you know likeand I don't mean just people
gathering in the same spot, Imean true community where people
are learning from each other,interacting with each other,
experiencing things with eachother, eating a cupcake or two
together.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Certainly that it's a team effort and helping out the
, the ones that are having astruggling or having a week.
I don't want to take credit forthis, but I want this to show
my heart and the heart of ourbusiness.
So we were driving through townand I noticed a business needed
.
I thought it needed something Ihad and I thought what I have
(11:03):
is not doing me any good.
So I think I'm going to go inthere and ask them if they would
like to have these things thatI have is not doing me any good.
So I think I'm going to go inthere and ask them if they would
like to have these things thatI have.
And they were very accepting ofit and got it up, but just
caring about others and like wedon't need to feed into
negativity and we don't need tocontinue it.
We need to chop it off.
So if negativity in yourcommunity comes by you, then you
(11:26):
personally have a chance tostop that, either correct it
with facts, try to help themunderstand and I think most of
negativity in most small townsor even big cities, it's being
fed by people who don't evenhave the facts straight.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
I'm switching gears here, sorry for that Switch
gears.
Why a bakery?
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Well, I've been baking and decorating for the
public since I was 12.
And I'm 51.
And it's just something I'vealways done and it's easy for me
.
I had the sewing shop, but it'sreally hard to find people who
can sew to the massive stuff wehad.
So we're like always about 140,50 orders deep and it was so
hard to come out of that.
So I said I want to dosomething in town, right, that I
(12:13):
love to do but that otherpeople can help me do, because
to treat someone, to sew ortrain them it takes a while.
I thought let's do this becauseeveryone loves our product.
We have people booking.
We're booked into January.
We have a few slots left.
We have people who are afraidthey won't get a place, so they
go ahead and say, well, I havethree kids and their birthdays
(12:35):
are this, this and this, so canI get my spot reserved?
And then I'll give you thetheme when we have one, and
that's really neat.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
But I just I think it's neat to do the bakery.
We were providing communitymeal once a week and before the
bakery was completed, we lostour spot where we were providing
the community meal and we lostour spot where we were providing
the community meal and I reallyloved that too, providing the
community meal.
Anyone can come and eat and wehad several we still do
stakeholders who provide andmake that possible, and I think
(13:05):
that's a great way to reach outin the community and now that we
have our bakery complete and wehave our sitting area back,
we'll be picking back up on that.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
So you're a lot more than a business owner here.
I mean, this is your community,right.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Some days, all days, it's my community, but some days
I'll stop at Reba's and I'll goin.
If they need something, I'lljump on that.
I might go across the street tothe vault, go in, start helping
them.
One day they were a littlebehind because they were so busy
, so I started cleaning tablesand I don't know.
I just being here so long, Ifeel like it's my family and I
(13:42):
feel like I just want to help.
I know what it feels like toget help, so I want to be that
person that can help and makesomeone smile, make their day
better.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
That's what it takes, right, when you're in a small
town like that.
That's what it takes becauseyou want I mean, you're
obviously a business owner aswell, I mean and you want that
to be part of the thing.
But that's how you make, that'show you get people to come back
to you again is what I'mgetting at is they've got to
like you, right?
That's how it works in a smalltown.
So, um, you know that you'vegot to have the best cinnamon
(14:12):
rolls, and they just can't denyit.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Well, they are good I'm going to put up with
Michelle, so I can eat somecinnamon rolls.
They are good, and we do.
Carol said well, you'reinteresting, your business is
interesting, so you know, readthis email.
Yeah, it's interesting, allright.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
What are you known for?
Is there a product that you'reknown for there?
Is it the cakes?
I mean, what is it?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
I don't know that I can pinpoint any one thing.
I think if we had to write overthat, I think that if someone
needed something, they candepend on us to at least make an
effort to help get theirproblem solved, whether they
need clothes or whether I thinkI'm known for helping versus a
bakery product.
But, I know our lemon bars andour cinnamon rolls and our
(14:58):
snickerdoodles are very popular.
My daughter's husband was inthe kitchen and the
snickerdoodles just keptemptying, emptying.
So he took over thesnickerdoodle job.
So now that's his nickname.
I was going to say is that atitle?
Because my son calledanderdoodle maker?
My son called and he says to meout of the blue he doesn't say
(15:18):
much, but when he does saysomething it's meaningful and he
says what's old Snickerdoodledoing?
So that's when that name stuck.
So Snickerdoodles are popular,cinnamon rolls are popular and
lemon bars, it's all popular.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
But how's it going in downtown, objectively as a
business owner, right as aperson in the community, how's
it going?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I feel like it's going great.
I'm overwhelmed at the supportfrom the community, the city
officials, everything that goeson behind the scenes that people
don't know is happening.
You know there's there'snaysayers, like anywhere, and I
was nervous.
I was nervous for differentthings going on, but the support
and the people that reach outfrom the Corps administration
(16:03):
here and the management I reallybelieve they're here to make
sure that we're all successfuland they will do whatever they
need to help out.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
We're speaking to Michelle Mobbs.
She owns Truly Favorite Bakeryin Atoka, Oklahoma.
Michelle, you said you werenervous what did you mean by
that?
When there was a change orsomething?
Nervous to open your business?
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Just not knowing what obstacles are coming, not
knowing what exactly it means,which we're still, of course,
learning but every day we try toget together, think about the
day, think about what we didwell, think about what we need
to improve, get everyone.
You know the staff's advice,because it is overwhelming to be
(16:47):
totally responsible for abusiness, but I do know that if
I was struggling in some area orneeded support, that I can go
to almost anyone in town,whether they're another business
owner or the city officials,but just making sure that your
business is running successfully.
I guess businesses get inbusiness just to make money for
(17:11):
themselves, but I believe wehave to make money for ourselves
.
But we also want to be therefor the people in need and the
people who might need someservice we offer.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
All right, I appreciate your input.
I appreciate your perspective.
I also hope when people areGoogling as they're driving
through Otoka, oklahoma or closeto here and they see Reba's,
they also consider TrulyFavorite down the street right.
Yes, check out that as well.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Yes, I hope they do.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Well, I appreciate you sharing so openly with us
today.
That I asked Danny and Carol isif you could offer a small
piece of advice to someone who'sin a community the size of
Etoka or smaller and they wantto open a business.
What's the first thing thatwould come out of your mouth?
Speaker 2 (18:04):
If that's what's on your heart, you can do it.
And don't think that everythinghas to be so meticulously
planned out, because there arethings that have to work their
self out, because there arethings that have to work their
self out over time, and you haveto allow that process to
naturally happen.
That, that would be my advice.
Not everything has to be putpen to paper and follow through
(18:25):
exactly as written.
Some things come with time.
But if your heart's in it, Ibelieve you can find a way.
I believe it can happen.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Michelle Mobs Truly Favorite Bakery, Atoka, Oklahoma
.
Thank you, Thank you.
Welcome to Small Talk , the podcast from Communities
Unlimited.
Communities Unlimited is a501c3 nonprofit organization
with over 40 years of experienceaddressing inequity and
disinvestment in the rural South.
Find out more atcommunitiesuorg.
I'm Chris Baker and this ispart two of our series from the
community of Atoka, Oklahoma.
Today we'll sit down withentrepreneur Michelle Maub.
(00:21):
Michelle is the owner of TrulyFavorite Bakery, located in
downtown Atoka, and has residedthere for many years.
We wanted to get herperspective on the
revitalization efforts throughthe lens of someone running a
business in Atoka.
So in Atoka, Oklahoma, if yougo downtown, you're going to run
into a bakery.
It's called Truly FavoriteBakery and Michelle Mobs owns
(00:44):
the place.
So tell me about your bakeryand tell me about why you
started there and what you do.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
We bake everything possible that we can think of
that the community is asking forand wants.
We do custom cake orders.
We go to different events, setup wedding cakes, cookie bars.
We take a lot of pride inserving our community.
That's why we're there.
It took us a little bit longerto get established than what
(01:13):
most people probably wouldproject a business to take, but
we've done that in order to nothave a big bunch of overhead.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Explain what you mean .
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Well, I have a friend who changed paths because her
situation became to where shewasn't being productive and as
effective as she wanted to be.
So I had asked my husband onetime.
I said we are here in thecommunity not just for ourselves
, but to continue to be part andoffer them what they need.
(01:45):
We need to give the people whatthey want.
And I said so what is the mainthing?
If I had to ask you that andyou're answering me, what is the
main thing that people, one ofthe main things that people want
at this time?
And he says you would have toknow my husband, he says
something they can afford.
So I said that's exactly mythoughts on it.
(02:13):
So we took our time to get readyto open the business and people
would be like is it open?
Is it open?
And they would come by.
So we ended up hanging a brickcurtain on our double doors so
they couldn't see us working inthere.
Because if the door got leftopen, it's a great thing.
But they were coming in, evenstepping over ladders and
hammers and things that were outand about.
And I'm thinking in my headcertainly they can't imagine
(02:37):
that we would be open as abakery serving food with this
such of a mess here.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
You got the saw going and yeah, why not?
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Yes, but I think their vision was on get to the
treats, get to the treats, andthey really didn't see it.
To answer your question gettingmy building paid for and taking
the patience and time that thatneeded, and then using what was
around us and things that otherpeople in town weren't wanting,
keeping the budget as low aspossible so that when we were
(03:05):
operating we'd have like loadsof bills.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
And see, without the loads of bills, overhead of the
building or lease or rent orpayments, that allows us to
offer the customers a moreaffordable price.
I mean, we look expensive butwe are affordable.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
So that's some real entrepreneurial spirit there,
right?
I mean, that's a way of lookingat something for success.
Have you always been anentrepreneur?
Where'd that come from?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
I'm not sure.
I served in the publicclassroom and taught at the
college for years of my life andI just reached a point where I
wanted to just kind of retire.
And I do tutor kids andteachers mentor them.
It's hard to be confinedsomewhere in a building or a
room, and I think this would bea good statement.
(03:57):
A business owner does not havea lot of freedom, but on one
hand it feels like it's morefreedom to not have to ask, you
know, to jump in your car and goget something you need or but
as a business owner, you may notalways have the time to do that
, right, right, so you may nothave to ask, but you know.
And then you can plan, you knowyour work in big clumps of time,
(04:21):
knowing that you can have a fewdays rest after that so you can
sort things how you want them.
I'm working on the building wasa probably more.
It was a lot more work thanwhat a lot of people do.
I don't know that.
Um, recycling things, ifsomeone was throwing out a
chandelier that needed work, I'mgrabbing that.
Um, we have two repurposedchandeliers in our building.
(04:44):
Um, the bead board that coversthe walls gives us that vintage
look and we worked on that andsalvaged that.
We have a vintage fireplace inour sitting room.
Came out of an old farmhouseand then part of our area that
divides our lobby from ourdisc-like cases, from our
kitchen is a vintage farmhousehutch and we used it for a
(05:06):
partial wall.
And so there's so many stories,like Carol was explaining,
about Reva's having so manycomponents that you can walk
around and tell stories about,and it makes such a unique
situation, especially when wehave guests from out of town or
the tourists in town who see oursigns and come in and then you
can.
They're like oh, it's so cute.
(05:27):
And then you're like well, letme.
I'll talk you around and showyou some things and they get
really interested in backstories, like of what's going on in the
building, and it just makes itso much more meaningful.
And then you're allowed tobuild those relationships and
start there.
And that's ultimately what ourgoal is relationships and start
there, and that's ultimatelywhat our goal is.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
I mean, that's what we do in town.
So if we're looking at being abusiness owner, entrepreneur, in
a small town, what would yousay?
Some of the challenges you'veseen are specifically with this
business and like how have youovercome some of those?
What are you working on?
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Well, it's probably an opposite answer, but right
now trying to adjust the amountof bakery items going out, and
how do we keep up with thedemand?
I mean, I guess, as a newbusiness, you know, some people
face oh, I need some customersto come in, I need some
customers.
But I think ours is.
(06:23):
How do we keep up with thecustomers?
Speaker 1 (06:25):
It's a good problem.
You have the opposite problemthat you were saying Like why do
you think that is in yourcommunity?
What's the population in Natoka?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Almost 3,000.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
So yeah, 3,000 people Passed over a little bit 3,200
people, right?
I mean they're lining upoutside a local bakery owned by
a local person to get.
I mean that's not common.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I don't think that's common.
A long time, ok, so I've.
1989 was when I first enteredthe world of food service.
Ok, and I actually was doingevery job imaginable in the food
service world as I went tocollege and you know as my life
progressed to do my teaching andI learned that very early on.
If you can make a customer feellike the most special person on
(07:08):
earth, that that's where thethat's where it is, and don't be
fake about it.
Really care, really findsomething about them that you
can say to them, something.
They're wearing, you know theirsmile engage in conversation
with them and let them talk.
I see so many people who want to.
(07:28):
They just want to listen tosomebody so that they can get
ready to speak.
They have no idea what theysaid and I want to work on
myself and that's.
I believe that people shouldlisten to other people talking,
to hear what they have to say.
So I think actually and somepeople don't have that so when
someone comes in or comes aroundus, I think it's important that
(07:50):
we listen and put the focus onthem, because if they're in your
business, I don't think they'rereally concerned about your
personal life.
They may be concerned, you knowabout the building they're
looking at and awestruck, orwhatever's going on there.
But I think, keep the focus onyour customer, make them feel
like the most special person onearth and go up and out of your
way to make sure they're happyand make sure that you're doing
(08:15):
a great service for them.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
We've talked about the kind of unique situation
that your community of Atoka,oklahoma, is with Reba's
investment and that going on,you as a business owner, telling
me that you're going to put thefocus on your customers like
that, tells me that you haveopportunities to do that to
people you don't even know, andI think that's really, really
important because that'speople's impression of a
(08:39):
community, right, they mightcome off the highway, They've
heard of Reba's, they've got tostop and see what's going on
there, but I guarantee you theylook down the street and they
see the bakery you know and theywant to go there as well, right
, so that's, that's a uniqueopportunity for yourself.
That's a great viewpoint tohave on customer service, right.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
I believe that people remember how someone made them
feel before they remember otherthings Like, for example, if you
think, maybe, of a teacher youhad in school, I think it's it's
you're quicker to remember howyou felt in that classroom or
how you felt before you rememberwhat they taught in a lot of
cases.
So that feeling, thatauthenticity, the feel, the
trueness, I think, is what makesus, or makes me as a person and
my business what it is.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Can I ask you what you think some of the things
that the people who are workingon making a Toko's downtown what
it is and what they want it tobe and everything, what are some
of the things you think they'vegotten right?
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Actually understanding what a downtown is
.
When I was in the school systemwhich was a great thing I never
went downtown I mean like Danny, and when we were young I did
but there was a big gap in mylife where I didn't come to town
, so I couldn't even have toldyou really what was going on in
town and I really wasn't payingit any mind, and I don't know
(09:58):
why it was just.
I was at my workplace all dayand I really I want to get that
message out that your downtownis a place to meet the needs of
the people in the community, andwhen we have a situation where
it's just a side burner topeople and they really don't
understand what's going on thereand how important it is, that's
(10:22):
just saddening.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
I hope you agree with this statement, but the way
that I always think of it islike that's a place where true
community happens, you know likeand I don't mean just people
gathering in the same spot, Imean true community where people
are learning from each other,interacting with each other,
experiencing things with eachother, eating a cupcake or two
together.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Certainly that it's a team effort and helping out the
, the ones that are having astruggling or having a week.
I don't want to take credit forthis, but I want this to show
my heart and the heart of ourbusiness.
So we were driving through townand I noticed a business needed
.
I thought it needed something Ihad and I thought what I have
(11:03):
is not doing me any good.
So I think I'm going to go inthere and ask them if they would
like to have these things thatI have is not doing me any good.
So I think I'm going to go inthere and ask them if they would
like to have these things thatI have.
And they were very accepting ofit and got it up, but just
caring about others and like wedon't need to feed into
negativity and we don't need tocontinue it.
We need to chop it off.
So if negativity in yourcommunity comes by you, then you
(11:26):
personally have a chance tostop that, either correct it
with facts, try to help themunderstand and I think most of
negativity in most small townsor even big cities, it's being
fed by people who don't evenhave the facts straight.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
I'm switching gears here, sorry for that Switch
gears.
Why a bakery?
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Well, I've been baking and decorating for the
public since I was 12.
And I'm 51.
And it's just something I'vealways done and it's easy for me
.
I had the sewing shop, but it'sreally hard to find people who
can sew to the massive stuff wehad.
So we're like always about 140,50 orders deep and it was so
hard to come out of that.
So I said I want to dosomething in town, right, that I
(12:13):
love to do but that otherpeople can help me do, because
to treat someone, to sew ortrain them it takes a while.
I thought let's do this becauseeveryone loves our product.
We have people booking.
We're booked into January.
We have a few slots left.
We have people who are afraidthey won't get a place, so they
go ahead and say, well, I havethree kids and their birthdays
(12:35):
are this, this and this, so canI get my spot reserved?
And then I'll give you thetheme when we have one, and
that's really neat.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
But I just I think it's neat to do the bakery.
We were providing communitymeal once a week and before the
bakery was completed, we lostour spot where we were providing
the community meal and we lostour spot where we were providing
the community meal and I reallyloved that too, providing the
community meal.
Anyone can come and eat and wehad several we still do
stakeholders who provide andmake that possible, and I think
(13:05):
that's a great way to reach outin the community and now that we
have our bakery complete and wehave our sitting area back,
we'll be picking back up on that.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
So you're a lot more than a business owner here.
I mean, this is your community,right.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Some days, all days, it's my community, but some days
I'll stop at Reba's and I'll goin.
If they need something, I'lljump on that.
I might go across the street tothe vault, go in, start helping
them.
One day they were a littlebehind because they were so busy
, so I started cleaning tablesand I don't know.
I just being here so long, Ifeel like it's my family and I
(13:42):
feel like I just want to help.
I know what it feels like toget help, so I want to be that
person that can help and makesomeone smile, make their day
better.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
That's what it takes, right, when you're in a small
town like that.
That's what it takes becauseyou want I mean, you're
obviously a business owner aswell, I mean and you want that
to be part of the thing.
But that's how you make, that'show you get people to come back
to you again is what I'mgetting at is they've got to
like you, right?
That's how it works in a smalltown.
So, um, you know that you'vegot to have the best cinnamon
(14:12):
rolls, and they just can't denyit.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Well, they are good I'm going to put up with
Michelle, so I can eat somecinnamon rolls.
They are good, and we do.
Carol said well, you'reinteresting, your business is
interesting, so you know, readthis email.
Yeah, it's interesting, allright.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
What are you known for?
Is there a product that you'reknown for there?
Is it the cakes?
I mean, what is it?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
I don't know that I can pinpoint any one thing.
I think if we had to write overthat, I think that if someone
needed something, they candepend on us to at least make an
effort to help get theirproblem solved, whether they
need clothes or whether I thinkI'm known for helping versus a
bakery product.
But, I know our lemon bars andour cinnamon rolls and our
(14:58):
snickerdoodles are very popular.
My daughter's husband was inthe kitchen and the
snickerdoodles just keptemptying, emptying.
So he took over thesnickerdoodle job.
So now that's his nickname.
I was going to say is that atitle?
Because my son calledanderdoodle maker?
My son called and he says to meout of the blue he doesn't say
(15:18):
much, but when he does saysomething it's meaningful and he
says what's old Snickerdoodledoing?
So that's when that name stuck.
So Snickerdoodles are popular,cinnamon rolls are popular and
lemon bars, it's all popular.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
But how's it going in downtown, objectively as a
business owner, right as aperson in the community, how's
it going?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
I feel like it's going great.
I'm overwhelmed at the supportfrom the community, the city
officials, everything that goeson behind the scenes that people
don't know is happening.
You know there's there'snaysayers, like anywhere, and I
was nervous.
I was nervous for differentthings going on, but the support
and the people that reach outfrom the Corps administration
(16:03):
here and the management I reallybelieve they're here to make
sure that we're all successfuland they will do whatever they
need to help out.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
We're speaking to Michelle Mobbs.
She owns Truly Favorite Bakeryin Atoka, Oklahoma.
Michelle, you said you werenervous what did you mean by
that?
When there was a change orsomething?
Nervous to open your business?
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Just not knowing what obstacles are coming, not
knowing what exactly it means,which we're still, of course,
learning but every day we try toget together, think about the
day, think about what we didwell, think about what we need
to improve, get everyone.
You know the staff's advice,because it is overwhelming to be
(16:47):
totally responsible for abusiness, but I do know that if
I was struggling in some area orneeded support, that I can go
to almost anyone in town,whether they're another business
owner or the city officials,but just making sure that your
business is running successfully.
I guess businesses get inbusiness just to make money for
(17:11):
themselves, but I believe wehave to make money for ourselves
.
But we also want to be therefor the people in need and the
people who might need someservice we offer.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
All right, I appreciate your input.
I appreciate your perspective.
I also hope when people areGoogling as they're driving
through Otoka, oklahoma or closeto here and they see Reba's,
they also consider TrulyFavorite down the street right.
Yes, check out that as well.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Yes, I hope they do.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Well, I appreciate you sharing so openly with us
today.
That I asked Danny and Carol isif you could offer a small
piece of advice to someone who'sin a community the size of
Etoka or smaller and they wantto open a business.
What's the first thing thatwould come out of your mouth?
Speaker 2 (18:04):
If that's what's on your heart, you can do it.
And don't think that everythinghas to be so meticulously
planned out, because there arethings that have to work their
self out, because there arethings that have to work their
self out over time, and you haveto allow that process to
naturally happen.
That, that would be my advice.
Not everything has to be putpen to paper and follow through
(18:25):
exactly as written.
Some things come with time.
But if your heart's in it, Ibelieve you can find a way.
I believe it can happen.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Michelle Mobs Truly Favorite Bakery, Atoka, Oklahoma
.
Thank you, Thank you.
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