Over the past fourteen years, Back in the Day has revived the once-struggling Starland District and become a gathering place and source of pride, not only for the neighborhood but also for the entire city. The bakery sits under a single palm tree at the intersection of West 40th and Bull Streets, an area that was originally a merchant center for the five surrounding neighborhoods. Many consider Griffith and Cheryl the pioneers of the now-thriving Starland District. “Back before we opened, Starland was very rough around the edges, but we saw a neighborhood that had heart,” Cheryl says. “We were adamant about opening up a neighborhood bakery. We wanted a place where we would have regulars, not somewhere transient, a tourist attraction per se. We wanted to make long-term connections with people because for us, that’s what a bakery is.”
Customers invite Cheryl and Griffith as guests to their weddings, funerals, and birthday parties, and children bring them artwork they made at school. Being a part of their customers’ lives is what makes it all worth it, Cheryl says. “It’s much easier to work the crazy hours that we work, and to do what we do, just to know how many people have taken us in, and some have even accepted us as family.”
Now working on their third cookbook, Cheryl and Griffith still have a story to tell. Cheryl is also creating a baking cookbook for children. Though Back in the Day has garnered attention nationwide, Cheryl and Griffith plan to remain small and community-based, the familiar bakeshop around the corner. “We’re not here to feed all of Savannah or to open up franchises,” Griffith says. “We decided when we opened that our motto would be one person baking for another person.”
Love, love your website. Can hardly wait to get to Savannah and visit your bakery. 🙂 Actually, I have a major question…hah!
My husbands grandmother (from very rural Georgia) us to make him tea cakes for a afternoon snack when he returned from school. He does not remember what or how they were made. Over the years I’ve tried different recipe to no avail. You would happen to have a recipe like that, would you? If so, and you would send it , I would reward you with a lot of “old fashioned” grandma hugs. 🙂 Good luck with your bakery. Ya’ll look like you are really enjoying yourself.
Have a wonderful Day, Suzanne
Hey Suzanne,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, we do not have any recipes for a Tea Cake. If you want to get into contact with the Bakery in Savannah, Georgia please visit this link https://backinthedaybakery.com/index.html. Happy Baking!