The Sweet Stash

Owner, Whitney May, just might be sweeter than her cakes.

Have you ever met an unfriendly baker? They’re pretty hard to find, and Whitney May certainly isn’t one of them. Whitney and Vaughn May co-own The Sweet Stash: the adorable bakery housed in the Nashville Farmers’ Market.

Whitney grew up on a Washington State apple orchard, and moved to Nashville in 2003. Her entrepreneurial (and baking) roots go deep; her great-grandparents ran a pie shop in Louisville, Kentucky, and her parents are entrepreneurs as well.

After a year and a half of preparation that involved many late nights baking, The Sweet Stash opened its doors on February 13, 2010, selling out of all their baked goods… two days in a row. In addition to providing a delicious product, her goal is to run a business that loves and appreciates its employees and customers, while giving back to the community. Whitney explains, “If we were blessed with more, I’d love to give more… at that point, you really do feel truly successful.”

When discussing coming up with new recipes, “We start dreaming about these colossal desserts we can make with these crazy flavors, and then we often have to bring it down a notch.” The recipes used at The Sweet Stash are gently sweet, not as saccharine as you may expect an everyday cupcake or cookie to be. “A lot of things that I try are too sweet for my taste, and I feel like they are for other people too.” The Cranberry Orange Cake is on the lightly sweet side, and Whitney imagines it’s the kind of holiday treat folks can enjoy curled up by the fireside.

The Sweet Stash sets itself apart by focusing on rich flavor and a sincere appreciation for its customers. You could also claim that what makes The Sweet Stash special is Whitney, one of the friendliest sweet-makers you’d ever hope to meet.