We had the good fortune of connecting with Olivia Gorzny and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olivia, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Now, as a small business owner, I’ve realized that risk taking is an important part of success or failure when taking on a new venture. I decided to leave my salaried job as a restaurant manager in early 2019 to open the bakery, It was the biggest decision I had to make since I made the choice to attend The University of Iowa after I graduated high school. I had made plans, mapped out the business and brainstormed all kinds of ideas for the bakery years before I ever made the move to open. Jumping ship from a job that was secure and with a set income is the biggest risk I’ve taken in my life to date. But, without risk, there isn’t reward and that still holds true for me today as I celebrate three years of being open.

I knew I was risking job security and forgoing an income when I started the business, and to offset that I picked up a side job to help me along while the bakery was being remodeled into a useable space. I still have that job today, because business trends up and down week to week. I had to have some sort of stable, weekly income to make sure I can continue doing what I love full time which is owning and operating the bakery. I still feel the risk every day or month to month. I thought opening the bakery would be my biggest stressor but the truth is – keeping it open – is more stressful than all the build outs, permits and codes I had to meet in the beginning to do this job. With all that said, I couldn’t be happier or more proud of how the business has grown over the last three years and that is the reward I was hoping for when I opened.


Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Baking is much like painting a house or working on an artistic project. It is time consuming, frustrating at times, yet so satisfying once the product is finished. I’ve learned a lot over the years from my mentor, Adam, who still answers my questions or gives me helpful tips when I take on bigger, detailed projects. Most of all, it is a lot of time, trial, error and maybe some tears in the process. I would say in the first year, each order I took on was a new challenge. Whether it’s cookies or cakes I haven’t made before and don’t know where to begin with.

Over time, I’ve learned what works best for certain desserts, but I still get challenged by cakes and those end up being my favorite. My products are not always Pinterest perfect, but I believe what sets me apart is the willingness to try new ideas and take on those challenging cakes. I feel that the relationship I’ve built with clients is even more crucial to my business than the baked goods at times. My goal is to set realistic expectations with clients for what I am able to do, and hope that the final product is exactly what they are looking for.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oregon, IL is a small town of about 4,000 people, which seems tiny in comparison to a large city. However, we have so much to do in our area and it is because of entrepreneurs like myself who have set up shop and given us a town we can enjoy and be proud of. Oregon is located right on the Rock River and it is a beautiful sight. Blackhawk Statue at Lowden State Park and the White Pines are great for outdoor adventures and hiking. My favorite places to grab a coffee are Hazel’s Cafe and The Village Bakery. Favorite food and bar establishments are Alfano’s Pizza, Chile Pepper Cafe, The Hunt Club, Dos Amigos, Hector’s Cocina and Cork and Tap for the fancy cocktails and craft beers. My favorite decor place is Simply Home and favorite decor & floral shops are Merlin’s and A.M Floral Co. Bundles & Brand and Libra Farms for floral arrangements. We have a tremendous amount to offer for a town of our size and a lot of the new foot traffic we see comes from the hard work of the Oregon IL Chamber of Commerce.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I feel so fortunate that I didn’t have one source of inspiration that led me to the bakery, but many in their own ways. I started baking for fun at a young age with my grandmas and then in high school for friends and family. One summer after my freshman year of college, my current boss Kim at our local coffee shop told me I should start selling my sugar cookies at the shop, She was the initial start to gathering a following in my hometown. Fast forward to my full time job as a restaurant manager, at Chili’s in Coralville, IA, which helped me get the knowledge of commercial kitchens and food handling. This helped me map out the bakery and how I needed to have it set up to code. My part time job in Coralville brought me my greatest mentor, Adam at Tip Top Cakes. I told him I wanted to learn and that a bakery is a dream of mine. He taught me and helped expand my skillset and I am forever grateful to him.

Once I moved home, I could not have started the business without my parents and siblings. My parents allowed me to move in with them while I got back on my feet. They helped with everything between moving equipment, cleaning, organizing and setting the bakery up for success. My younger brother, Cade, still comes back to help me on breaks from college and he’s the best dishwasher I could ask for.

Every one of my friends from my hometown, to college, to past work places and my current part-time work place, have been extremely supportive and helpful. They refer people to me, offer to help when needed and allow me to vent when I need to relieve some stress. My boyfriend, Jarrad, came into the picture a year ago and has helped me deliver countless weddings, folded many boxes and been a soundboard when I have ideas. Last, but certainly not least is the Oregon, IL and surrounding communities. Whether they order for one event, come back each year for birthday cakes or book weddings with me means the world to me. I truly believe anywhere else, I would not have had the welcoming support, encouragement or love shown to me while chasing my bakery dream.

Instagram: osbakeryil

Facebook: www.facebook.com/osbakeryil

Image Credits
Chelsea Marie Photography Alena Michelle Photography Lifeworks Photography Studio

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