Third bakery set to open in struggling section of Mt. Airy

If fresh baked goodies are a key ingredient in the rise of a local economy, a new bakery brings the “rule of three” to mind.

Frosted Fox Cake Shop, 6511 Germantown Ave., is the third bakery to come to the struggling south end of Mt. Airy’s commercial corridor.

A first-time business venture for husband and wife team, Jenny Low and Sean Williams, they hope to see that section of the avenue transformed into a confectionery hub.

“We want it to be a little Bakers’ Row where we can swap ingredients and stories,” Low said.

Home slice

Opening up her own cake shop has long been a goal for Low.

She and Williams met and fell in love while attending culinary school in New York. After graduating seven years ago, they moved to Philadelphia, where Low began making specialty cakes at Chestnut Hill’s Night Kitchen Bakery and Williams’ went into corporate catering.

“So we decided — we just turned 30, it’s time to try to do something for ourselves,” said Low.

Keeping local was an important consideration for the baking duo, who live on the oft-disputed border of Mt. Airy and Germantown, but not only to be part of the former’s revitalization.

Germantown, once home to numerous bakeries (whose George Washington cakes some older residents may fondly remember), now has none. Low says she hopes Frosted Fox will help fill that void.

As for the bakery’s unique name, credit the book/movie “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” Low admits that she became such a huge fan of the film, that foxes have since become a motif for their lives.

A specialty cake shop

Specialty cakes for wedding and events will be the bakery’s primary focus.

Low says while she loves doing wedding and sculpted cakes, her embellishments won’t get quite as extreme as cable television’s Cake Boss.

The most elaborate cake she’s worked on to date was a five-tier special order in celebration of Earth Day. Each tier represented a different eco-sphere.

Buildings and beloved pets are among the other sculpted confections Low’s made for customers.

In the rear of the shop will be dedicated space where patrons can watch her creative process in action. She hopes to eventually offer classes in cake decoration.

The bakery will also offer a small selection of daily treats like cookies and bars, plus coffee. Customers will be welcome to eat inside at a long community table near the entrance.

Low says she expects to finally open for business in the next two months, following renovations and inspection by the city’s health department.

Welcomed by neighboring baker

Despite being the third bakery on the block, the couple say they have no worries about competition because of their niche market.

In fact, Jimmie Reed, proprietor of Little Jimmie’s Bake House has been extremely supportive, Low said.

Though their three-year lease began in January, a zoning variance was needed for onsite food preparation. Reed, who serves on the board of East Mt. Airy Neighbors, backed Low and Williams’ application.

He’s happy that Frosted Fox will soon join the neighborhood. They’ll be part of the positive change on Germantown Avenue Reed says he feels he helped to jump start.

“It’s all about growing the community,” Reed said.