DIDSBURY -- A local bakery is facing tough times as the owner steps away for health reasons. Quicks, Perks and Werks Bakery in Didsbury will be closed for a couple of months as owner and baker Debbie Burgess awaits surgery for an arm injury.
The family-owned and -operated business opened in July of last year across from the post office. Burgess said they were busy at the start but then business began to slow down.
"It was great to start with," said Burgess. "The last two months have been very lean. With me having a medical issue there's just not enough money to pay the bills, unfortunately. That's part of our issue."
Burgess said that people she talked to said they really enjoyed coming in and picking up the fresh snacks especially the homemade cupcakes.
"A lot of customers said they love us and say our food is great, but we've heard from a few people that it's been slow in town for businesses, so I don't know," she said.
Burgess hurt her arm cooking for the bakery and is hoping to get a medical procedure soon to help alleviate her discomfort.
"As a baker I'm using my hands and arms constantly because we hand make all our stuff here," she said. "I started with carpal tunnel and ended up with damage up into my shoulder. It's been like that for over a year and I'm a stubborn individual and have put it off. It's got to the point where I can't even use it."
Burgess said the bakery will be closed for now unless they can find someone to step up and help financially. She said they don't have enough money to hire another baker.
"We don't have enough money in the coffers," she said. "We need some help. I'm not someone who like to ask either, but it is what it is."
Burgess said they've already had some people contact them and give best wishes.
"That's been great," she said. "We're hoping someone can step up maybe as a silent partner. Someone that can help us out. I've tried to secure financing in the last month or so and haven't been able to."
Burgess said she's enjoyed operating the bakery and getting to know the customers. Quirks, Perks and Werks has also given an opportunity for Burgess's 19-year-old autistic daughter to learn valuable skills in a work environment.
"I wanted her to have a safe place to work as well," said Burgess. "She's 19 and she doesn't have as many social skills as she should. This place has helped her a lot. She's learned how to use the till and handle money and deal with customers. She's learned how to deal with things in a more positive way."
The bakery has also been running baking classes for kids out of its kitchen a couple of times a week.
"It's been awesome," said Burgess. "We had a Tuesday class and knowing the kids weren't able to come back it was pretty sad. It has been wonderful showing kids some lifelong skills. We have a real blast. For our Christmas group we made fudge. It didn't quite work out and so we made slime and had a lot of fun with it."
Burgess said they've had classes with preteens and teens and another with moms and dads and little ones.
"They come into the back and just play," she said. "We have them play with bread dough. They made cinnamon twists and they turned out really well. We've done sugar cookies, cupcakes. They had a blast. If we can't keep that going that would be very sad. I think there is a need out there. Parents have told me that."
Anyone interested in helping can email Burgess at [email protected].
