New ownership at Honey Bee Bakery in Medina

MEDINA — Kimberly McDonald has always dreamed of owning a bakery, and that became a reality on Jan. 1. "New year, new owner," said Laura Parnell Cavey, owner of Cool Beans Cafe. Cavey sold Honey Bee Bakery, 23 Public Square in Medina, to McDonald about a week ago. Cavey said trying to manage three businesses — she also owns the Undergrounds Cafe & Coffee House in Wooster — was just too much for any one person. McDonald said she knew Cavey was looking to sell the business and seized the opportunity. She has been a cookie decorator at Honey Bee since 2018. "You know what, I said 'Sell it to me,'" McDonald said. "If there was ever a time to jump, it was now." McDonald said she went through many ordeals in 2020, which included losing her full-time job and having her husband, Kyle, recover from kidney cancer. McDonald grew up in Litchfield Township and attended Keystone High School. She lived in Medina for several years before getting married in 2010 and moving to Rittman. "There were a lot of ups and downs," she said. Everything is on the up and up now, she said. "It has been an absolute dream come true," McDonald said. "I am so excited. This is the start of a whole new chapter in my life." The new owner, who will manage a staff of 11, said she wanted her customers to know there might be a few cosmetic changes, but very few to the recipes handed down from former owner Keni Scherbinski, who helped open Honey Bee Bakery with Cavey in 2015. She has since sold her ownership interest. "I want to make it to feel like home," she said. The mother of two — sons, David, 12, and Landon, 8 — has the experience to do just that. Besides working at Honey Bee, she was assistant manager of Rise and Grind in Wadsworth and helped owner Bob Titus open the shop last July. "I ran his bakery," she said. "(Titus told her), it's an opportunity of a lifetime." She tries to repay her old boss by sending several customers to his establishment, which offers a gluten-free menu. McDonald hasn't ruled out adding gluten-free treats in the future. Honey Bee specializes in bakery made from scratch, from sugar cookies, brownies and French macarons to wedding cakes. "We specialize in vegan," she said. McDonald wanted to thank Cavey for instilling confidence in her ability. "I see your spark for the bakery," she said Cavey told her. "I'm not trying to put words in her mouth, but Laura is more of a coffee person. I was able to take this and run. She had all the faith in the world in me." Cavey said she already misses the bakery. "The people I worked with are so artistically talented," she said. "They are so involved in the new recipes. I'll miss all of them. I'll be a cheerleader for Kim. She's super sweet." Contact reporter Bob Finnan at (330) 721-4049 or rfinnan@medina-gazette.com.