New Bakery In Former Sweet Cakes by Melissa Location Still Dealing With Confused Prayer Warriors

If you're looking for a loaded place to open a bakery, 44 NE Division Street in Gresham is a great choice. The strip mall store front is the former home of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, which closed up shop following a discrimination lawsuit for refusing to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. 

Now a small family run bakery, specializing in custom decorated sugar cookies, stands in its place. Nonnie’s Bake Shop opened in March of this year, after owner Trina Fornoff decided to evolve her home run bakery into a shop. Despite the adverse circumstances surrounding the location, any bad “juju” left from the previous business doesn’t seem to have rubbed off on Nonnie’s. 

“We’re doing well, we’re on our sixth month now, things are picking up. It’s the holiday season so we just expect it to get better,” says Fornoff. 

Despite Nonnie's continued success, opening another bakery at the same address as one clouded by controversy was by no means an easy decision for Fornoff, who was fearful that people might think her bakery was affiliated with the former tenants. However, due to financial restraints Fornoff made the decision to see it through. 

"I had to be brave about it," says Fornoff. "It was gonna save us a lot of money…not having to buy some of the structural equipment you need to open a shop."

Fornoff's concerns seem legit. People often come in asking if they are in Sweet Cakes. Occasionally Nonnie's will even get mail addressed to Sweet Cakes, which Fornoff leaves unopened and returns to the post office. 

As for the questions Fornoff often gets from customers and media outlets alike concerning her personal stance on the preceding owners and the events that took place, Fornoff maintains a strong impartial response.    

“I prefer not to comment because I don't want to put myself in a category one way or the other,” says Fornoff. “I stay very neutral and I usually don't discuss it at all.” 

Ultimately Fornoff hopes to completely dissociate herself and her business from any affiliations with Sweet Cakes and the case in general, imagining that one day people will realize that the building address is their only commonality.      

“For once I’d like to be known as Trina from Nonnie’s and not the girl that took over the shop where Sweet Cakes used to be. Some day we’ll stand on our own and not have to answer questions and return mail,” says Fornoff. “I’ve had people come in and ask to pray with me because they think I’m Melissa—sometimes it’s hard.”

Fornoff has big goals for her bakery and foresees it being a “strong pillar in the community.” Nonnie’s Bake Shop is off to a great start, offering various treats from cookies, cupcakes, scones and coffee. Though there is one thing this bakery doesn’t do. 

 â€œWe don’t do wedding cakes,” says Fornoff. 

WWeek 2015