Since the opening of Pattycake Vegan Bakery in the summer of 2005, owner Jennie Scheinbach has delighted customers with vegan versions of classic favorites that have vegans and non-vegans alike craving more of her cruelty-free creations. Jennie ’s all-natural niche, located at 3009 N. High St in Clintonville, will satisfy the sweet tooth of every customer without using animal products, refined sugars or hydrogenated oils. With the purchase of Pattycake goods comes the treat of knowing that you’re supporting a community-minded, Earth-friendly business that composts, recycles, and uses organic ingredients. Jennie recently shared some thoughts about owning a bakery, maintaining a socially conscious business, and her future plans for Pattycake in an interview with VegOhio.com.

What made you decide to open a vegan bakery?

I’ve always baked since I was a kid and I’ve always loved sweets. It grew naturally from my love of baking. I decided to have a vegan bakery when I was in Cup O’ Joe and noticed that they had very few vegan items, and I thought that someone should make yummy things for vegans. That’s where the idea was born. After tasting what I was making out of my home, people started telling me to open a bakery. Caroline Harding, a woman who modeled owning her own business, encouraged me and pushed me to do it. Pattycake has had a natural evolution from my house and selling in the Co-op, to making more and more recipes and growing out of my kitchen. Doors opened and I walked through them. My family is important to me, and I like balancing my family life with owning my own business.

	Why did you decide to become vegan?
	I’ve been vegetarian since I was 19, and I became vegan for moral reasons. I recognize that other living creatures have the same will to live that I do, and I wouldn’t take that away from anyone or anything. When I had kids, my partner and I knew that being vegan would set a good example for them.

What is your vision for the future of Pattycake?

I would like to expand the bakery by adding space for seating and serve more items. For the long-term, I want Pattycake to continue to be a moral place that is not just vegan but one that also composts, recycles, and treats employees well. A good way to bring out the best in the people who work here is to give them ownership. I want the bakery to become a worker-owned cooperative and franchise the concept of a worker-owned Pattycake Bakery. Maybe we could even have Pattycake in Chicago and other cities.

	What are your best selling items?
	The Classic Tollhouse Cookie with nuts is, by far, the best-selling item. The blueberry muffin with crumb topping is the best-selling muffin, closely followed by banana chocolate chip. The chocolate cake with chocolate icing is the most popular cake.

	What are your favorites?
	I love everything here. Lately, the blueberry muffin is my favorite. The sticky buns that we make on Saturdays are a close second favorite.

	What do you want people to know about your business?
	It’s yummy, and if you haven’t tried it, you should. People see vegan in the name and have the misconception that it’s too different, but we have the best stuff, vegan or not. We are also unique in that we don’t use hydrogenated oils and we’re all natural.

You can also find Pattycake Vegan Bakery goodies in the Columbus area at Stauf’s, the Clintonville Co-op, the Raisin Rack, Yeah Me Too coffee shop, the Wexner Center Café, Café Apropos, and eight Cup O’ Joe locations.