Lori Horvath

Ligonier, PA (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal

Landmark Bakery

Find More Startups Startup
Location: Ligonier
Industry: Food Service/Restaurant
Year Founded: 1979
Number Employees: 1-10 people
Description: I am a third generation baker. My father had two bakeries when I was small. One in Glassport PA, and one in Pittsburgh PA. My sister who is 22 years older than me, worked with him, and when he passed away, she kept up the cake decorating, and had been making wedding and celebration cakes for over 60 years. I have been working with her for about 32 years, but now she is retiring and handing over most of her equipment (pans, tools and supplies) to me. I was going to just continue to to work out of my commercial kitchen in my home, however our Township does not permit a commecial business other than farming where we live. I decided to open a bakery because our town of Ligonier, does not have a bakery, and that would be a great addition as well as attraction for our residents. I intended to also include a coffee bar, with an internet lounge, and outdoor cafe which would be well used, as this is a beautiful little town. I have a location in mind, but it needs a lot of work. It is a landmark Victorian, that has fallen into disrepair. This was once a main center for the community as the old house that was built in 1838 housed several business' along with the main attraction of a "gay ninetys" ice cream shoppe. The general concensus of the community is that the bakery / coffee bar would be the perfect fit. We would offer all products of a full service bakery, along with ice cream, breakfast and lunch hot wraps, all beverages to encourage our locals to eat their lunch and bring their laptops with them! If I were to purchase, the building, it would go faster and we would see a great return quickly especially if we could get open for the annual "Ligonier Days" where people come in from all over the world. This is a very rural, historic town, like one you would see in a Norman Rockwell painting. For a better feel of our lovely town, please visit (URL removed). But if we lease the building, we are at the mercy of the owner who said he would have the building restored and let me lease with option to buy. Unfortunately, he told me in April that we'd be in by July 4. No work has been done to date. He tells me that he hires a contractor and they don't show up. I think he didn't realize how much work / money would be involved. But I can tell you that the location and exposure from the traffic and all the out of town visitors would show a quick return.