Since Jacquette’s Bakery opened in 1980, it’s been the local go-to destination for special occasions, the holiday season, or even when the Phillies are in the World Series. Marple residents know that to celebrate any special day or even just a regular day, take a trip over to Jacquette’s to pick up one of their delicious baked goods. Owner Dennis Jacquette said he was born with a sweet tooth and lives by the motto: Life Is Short, Eat Dessert First!
Dennis grew up in Newtown Square and attended St. Anastasia Grade School and Cardinal O’Hara High School. Since the age of 12, he’s been working in a bakery. He has always loved sweets and when he goes out to eat he always scans the dessert menu first to see what he should save room for.
After eight years of working at a bakery in Media, he decided to go out on his own and open up Jacquette’s here in Broomall when he was 26. Dennis said opening the bakery was something he wanted to do before he grew up. “But I never grew up,” he said jokingly. “I just grew old!”
Photos courtesy of Jacquette’s Bakery
Dennis and his wife Stephanie raised their three children here in Marple Newtown and all three worked in the store during their school age years. While his children were growing up, Dennis said the bakery was busy but he was lucky that running his own business allowed him the opportunity to be involved in his children’s extra curricular activities like little league. Although his children are now grown with their own careers and children, they still offer to come help out at Jacquette’s especially during the holidays when they know their dad could use an extra hand.
Not only has Dennis been blessed with a wonderful family, but his staff, many of whom have been with him for decades, are also like family. Dennis said that one of his decorators worked in the bakery for 40 years. Even when she put herself through school, and then later retired, she continued to work part-time at the bakery. Some of the staff is even third generational. “It’s really nice to have people here whose parents and grandparents have worked here,” Dennis said fondly. “It really is like one big family.”
Gabby Messina serves as the General Manager for the bakery. She does everything from decorating to baking, to handling social media. “Gabby brings a whole new spirit to Jacquette’s,” said Dennis. “She has incredible passion for decorating and her knowledge of social media has allowed our customers to get a better idea of what we do. Since she started two years ago, she has really helped our business grow.”
That demand was certainly the case when the Phillies were in the World Series and the Eagles were winning each week. Their staff and ovens were working overtime as they helped customers prepare for festive World Series parties and pep rally gatherings and watch parties. “Although we were extremely busy, it was really fun,” said Dennis. “It’s nice to know that we can be part of everyone’s celebrations, especially when so much else is going on in the world. It’s a good distraction.”
What Dennis finds most rewarding about owning a bakery is the customers. “I have families that have grown up on our goodies whose children are now my customers,” he explained. He is very familiar with his customers and knows most on a first-name basis. Having chain supermarkets as its main competition isn’t always easy for small businesses, but Jacquette’s has an edge when it comes to personal service. “Personal touch definitely has a lot to do with our success,” Dennis said. “We go above and beyond. I will do things for customers that they can’t get somewhere else.”
Jacquette’s Bakery cases are brimming with every imaginable type of cookie, cake, pie, danish, etc. There is also a table with even more treats in the center of the store and shelves along the walls with a bountiful amount of baked goods cakes, cupcakes, cookies and doughnuts. We asked Dennis what his favorite is. “It would have to be Swedish nut cookies that we sell year-round,” he said. “At this point I have probably eaten 1,000 lbs of them!”
Jacquette’s Bakery is located in the Shoppes at Sproul Plaza at 2076 Sproul Road, Broomall. For more information, call today at 610-353-2550. You can also follow Jacquette’s Bakery on Facebook and Instagram or visit www.JacquettesBakery.com.