This weekend the City of Hillsboro and its residents have something to celebrate. Something very delicious! Decadent Creations Bakery is celebrating its 11th anniversary in existence and four years of its opening here in downtown Hillsboro. Hard to believe it has been that long since powerhouse businesswoman and master baker Mindy Simmons entered our world.
The business started in her kitchen in 2010, where she toiled night and day to concoct perfection in a wide variety of baked goods. Working from the wee hours to the evening hours on a non-stop grind, this master baker has been selling pastries, pies, and every form of edible baked goods. In the early days, it was the farmers’ markets that propelled her. Customers and consumers sand her praises, and her goods always sell out ahead of time. She is that good.
Simmons is so good that she won the 2015 TV baking show Chopped in 2015 in the episode Chocolate Rush. Her biscuits won the competition and netted her a $10,000 prize. More than that, she was able to show the skills she has to the world, a world waiting for excellent baked goods. In 2017 Decadent Creations Bakery opened at 171 NE 3rd Ave., Hillsboro, OR 97124. The remodeled historic home exhumes light and freshness, and visitors are assured a great visit.
From Coffee to pastries to sandwiches, no one leaves unimpressed. There are not enough words to say what her investment has meant to the old town district. The physical remodel of the 3 buildings and land has cost an incredible amount of money. But beyond that, it has ignited the 3rd Street block North of Main Street- activated the block as they say. That has huge ramifications for the rest of the merchants. Consumers often come to Simmon’s business and walk through downtown, eating, and shopping along the way.
The bakery was phase one, followed by the NW building’s remodeling, which is now D’Anu Wine. That business has added another brick in the cities wall of offerings and is a fan favorite. The Collective Kitchen followed in the North building at 173 NE 3rd Ave, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Here Simmons provides an incredible kitchen for other businesses to operate and make homemade organic food- all from scratch. The amount of food made there can in fact, feed our city and beyond. Other offerings include cooking and baking classes and event gatherings for chefs.
Simmons will complete a 4th business offering soon when the Collective Market opens. Customers will be able to buy foods of all kinds, groceries, sit and eat, and have a cocktail too. Look for that to become a community cornerstone with a launch date of late February likely. Decadent Creation started in her kitchen and its 11th year seems like it will be a year of incredible if growth. When the pandemic lifts, customers will gather quickly to eat and stretch out on the lawns and patios and deck space too.
How did all of this happen? She had a dream, and she did what all dreamers who are successful do. She worked. Having watched Mindy and been able to get to know her, that is the secret. There are always challenges and obstacles, but her work ethic outpaces her skill set. And her skill set is so high that success was the only possible outcome. Anyone wanting to make it in the baking world should model her, and she is someone to watch and emulate.
Hillsboro needs people like Mindy Simmons, a mother of two girls, who cares about the people and only wants to make things better for her community. The Herald suggests you all make sure to support Decadent Creations, D;Anu, the Collective Kitchen, and soon the Collective Market. And when you go, enjoy the space, the food, the atmosphere, and the gathering place that this dynamic human being has made for all of us!
*Featured Image of Mindy Simmons provided by Aaron Andersen-
Congratulations Mindy Simmons – what you’ve created is amazing & awesome and has brought some well deserved attention to Downtown Hillsboro!
She really has… it took me personally way to long to become a customer and once we started eating those goodies we really were hooked! Now we attend events and eat there on the regular! A fun spot indeed!